The senior Olympics official caught up in the boxing gender row was Keir Starmer‘s best man, it has emerged.
As chief spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, Mark Adams has been fielding questions about contenders Imane Khelif and Taiwan‘s Lin Yu-ting.
Both have previously failed gender eligibility tests by the IBA boxing regulator, but the Games in Paris are being overseen by the IOC.
Mr Adams is believed to be an old school friend of the PM, and one of four best men at his wedding to Victoria in 2007.
A massive row broke out at the Paris games this week after Algerian Khelif, who has lived as a female since birth, fought Italian rival Angela Carini in a bout that lasted just 46 seconds.
As chief spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, Mark Adams has been fielding questions about contenders Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting
A massive row broke out at the Paris games this week after Khelif, who has lived as a female since birth, fought Italian rival Angela Carini in a bout that lasted just 46 seconds
Mr Adams is believed to be an old school friend of the PM, and one of four best men at his wedding to Victoria in 2007 (pictured)
The 25-year-old, one of two athletes thrown out of last year’s world championships in New Delhi after failing to meet gender eligibility criteria, is now eyeing up a medal after progressing to the quarter-finals.
During the fight, Carini was hit twice, suffered a suspected broken nose and barely threw a punch before telling her corner: ‘It’s not fair.’ She then sank to her knees, beat the canvas in frustration and refused to shake Khelif’s hand.
Mr Adams, a former broadcast journalist who joined the IOC in 2009, has batting away criticism, insisting that everyone competing in the boxing meets eligibility rules.
He said the two boxers at issue are ‘real people’ and ‘this is not a transgender issue’, warning against a ‘witch hunt’.
He told a press conference yesterday: ‘What I’d repeat is all the competitors comply with the competition eligibility rules and that’s as it should be.
‘That’s how these boxers concerned have taken part in these Games, have taken part in previous world championships, have taken part in previous Olympic Games, have taken part in regional and continental competitions.
‘They comply with the eligibility rules and I think that’s as it should be and how it can be.’
Speaking to Sir Keir’s biographer Tom Baldwin earlier this year, Mr Adams said: ‘Keir’s a regular bloke who has always liked a pint or two, talking nonsense with his mates and playing far more football than is good for him.
‘It’s how he plugs back into his private network and recharges himself.’
Sir Keir, pictured answering questions in Downing Street yesterday, was described by Mr Adams as a ‘regular bloke who has always liked a pint or two’
