Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, Yamna Ayad is the first girl in Egypt’s history to participate in boxing competitions in the OlympicsArticle information
- Author, Abdel Moneim Halawa
- Role, BBC-Cairo
-
3 hours ago
A huge uproar was caused by the story of the exclusion of Egyptian boxer Yomna Ayad from the Paris Olympics without playing any match on Saturday, due to her being overweight, exceeding the required weight for competition of 54 kilograms.
The controversy was heightened by statements made by the head of the Egyptian Boxing Federation and deputy head of the Olympic mission, Abdel Aziz Ghoneim, about the incident, regarding the inability to know the reason and identify the person responsible for depriving Egypt of its historic participation in women’s boxing competitions for the first time.
Ghanem said in televised statements from Paris, “Yumna did weight-control exercises on Friday evening, and no one was with her during the weigh-in, as she had to be in her room wearing light clothes. Then she sent a picture of the scale and it was set at 54 kilograms.”
But the next day, Saturday, “she woke up at 6 a.m. to everyone’s surprise that she had gained 700 grams.”
“It could be a medical reason.”
Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, A photo published by the Egyptian Boxing Federation, which it said was of Yamna Ayyad’s scales on the night of the match, and her weight was 54 kilograms.
But medically, this is possible and a girl can “gain weight within a few hours,” especially a few days before her period, according to Dr. Sidra Al-Sheikh, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at the Global Medical Center, in a statement to the BBC.
Yamna Ayyad, 19 years old, achieved a historic accomplishment and was the first female boxer to qualify for the Olympics in Egypt’s history. She has been preparing for this event for three years, and achieved outstanding results for women’s boxing in Egypt. She won Egypt’s first medal in the Mediterranean Games, and won an African medal in the game.
The draw had placed Yamna in a match against the Uzbek champion in the 54 kg weight class in the round of 32, but she did not participate in the match and was disqualified before the competition because her weight would be greater than that of her competitor, which is against the rules of boxing, which classifies players according to their weight.
Regarding what happened in the player’s room and whether the scale was checked or only the picture sent by the player was used, Ghanem said in a statement and press statements that he does not know what the player did in her room, or what she ate or drank to gain weight during the night hours, indicating that an investigation was being conducted with her.
Gained a kilo and a half before the tournament
Despite the statements of the head of the Boxing Federation and the deputy head of the mission, Sherif El-Erian, Secretary General of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, revealed a major surprise and admitted that Yamna was suffering from excess weight two days before the competitions, and the mission knew this. He described what happened as a “grave mistake” for which everyone bears responsibility.
Al-Arian added in television statements, “Her weight was one and a half kilos extra 48 hours before the competition, but she returned to her appropriate weight on the night of the match.”
Regarding the reason for the increase again, the Secretary-General of the Egyptian Olympic Committee responded that, “There is no reason for the increase except eating and drinking,” and attributed this to the young age of the player and her lack of athletic experience, and that it is her first time participating in the Olympics.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 1
However, Dr. Sidra Al-Sheikh points out that there is no need to eat anything, and the girl’s weight may increase from “700 grams to 2 kilograms” in the three days preceding the menstrual period.
She added to the BBC: “Even if she wants to delay her period, the medical team accompanying her must pay attention to this matter and reduce her weight in anticipation of any sudden increase.”
This was also confirmed by Ghanem, the deputy head of the mission, who said that he met the player, spoke with her, and asked her about what she did at night. She told him that she felt some “physiological changes” when she woke up in the morning. He stressed that they would try to “contain her” due to her young age, without further explanation.
Regarding the meaning of physiological changes, Dr. Sidra explained that these physiological changes may be the onset of menstruation, which also causes weight gain.
She said that the physiological changes may also be “precursors and symptoms of the menstrual cycle” and appear several days before its due date, and the symptoms continue even if the player takes hormonal medications to delay its onset. Among these symptoms is fluid retention in the body, which certainly leads to weight gain, as a result of hormonal changes that lead to the fluids not being expelled.
There are those who criticised the Boxing Federation President’s way of dealing with the situation, and placing the responsibility on the player alone without talking about any negligence on the part of the administrative or medical staff, in addition to his statement that Yamna was not a candidate to “win a medal” in the first place.
A woman tweeted on the X website: “Is anyone being held accountable or punished? There is negligence, and the evidence is the way the head of the Boxing Federation deals with the public and the media.”
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 2
Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, Yamna Ayad after winning the African Championship
It is known that there is a precise and strict nutritional program for all athletes during preparation for the championships, and in the Olympics there is a nutrition expert and a doctor who constantly monitors the athletes and supervises the quality of food and the timing of its consumption.
Ahmed Zahran, a sports nutrition expert at an Egyptian sports institution, confirmed to the BBC that food is calculated in grams and calories, and the player’s entire life is under medical and training supervision, especially before major tournaments, and players cannot be allowed to eat any food or take anything without the knowledge of the coaches.
Regarding the possibility of Yamna hiding food or eating something in her room after the weigh-in, Al-Arian ruled out this happening and stressed that everything is under the supervision of the trainers. He confirmed that he is in Paris and will review the investigations and reports from officials to determine the truth of what happened.
Zahran added that the players do not eat anything before the weigh-in and there is a fasting period of one or two days, and preparations are made to “get rid of water” in the body and any “waste in the intestines” to reduce weight.
He explained that after the official weigh-in, the player eats whatever he wants, especially energy foods rich in calories to regain energy before competing.
Questions, accusations and mockery
Social media sites in Egypt were abuzz with comments on the news of the exclusion of boxer Yamna Ayyad. The comments, as usual, ranged from mockery to raising questions that needed answers, as well as accusations of negligence and failure by the mission officials.
One user said that “simple details” had denied Egypt its first women’s Olympic boxing competition, and that stress may have caused Yamna to “retain water” and gain weight.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 3
But these details also remain the responsibility of the coaches, the medical staff, and the physical trainer supervising the player, who did not prepare her well and help her get rid of the excess water.
The user added in a tweet on the X platform, “The athlete must be prepared at least four hours before the match, by going to the toilet to expel the digested and stored in the colon, as well as the urine bag, and the presence of laxatives for this.”
He warned that simply eating 300 grams of meat, bread and vegetables, in addition to 500 milliliters of fluids, will deposit 800-900 grams more in the body.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 4
Users defended the player, saying that she has achieved historic accomplishments despite her young age, including the African silver medal, and that she is the first girl to qualify for the Olympics in Egypt’s history in boxing, even though she is not from Cairo and comes from Damietta Governorate, northeast of the Nile Delta, to train and practice the sport she loves.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 5
One of the users considered what happened to be neglect and a waste of public money, and tweeted on the X website, “Millions are spent on some games to no avail in a country that has privatized hospitals for the poor.”
He mocked what the Egyptian player did and that she ate stuffed vegetables on the night of the match, and added, “There were stuffed cabbage and zucchini in the hotel and the girl lost weight in front of the stuffed vegetables. She has been eating meat, chicken and fish by the gram for months and she said to herself, ‘She only ate a few stuffed vegetables.'”
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 6
sfarsit articol
Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, Yamna Ayad is the first girl in Egypt’s history to participate in boxing competitions in the OlympicsArticle information
- Author, Abdel Moneim Halawa
- Role, BBC-Cairo
-
3 hours ago
A significant uproar was sparked by the news of Egyptian boxer Yamna Ayad’s exclusion from the Paris Olympics without participating in any match on Saturday, due to exceeding the required competition weight of 54 kilograms.
The controversy intensified following statements made by the head of the Egyptian Boxing Federation and deputy head of the Olympic mission, Abdel Aziz Ghoneim, regarding the incident, expressing confusion about the reasons behind Egypt’s historic exclusion from women’s boxing competitions.
Ghanem stated in televised remarks from Paris, “Yumna conducted weight-control exercises on Friday evening, and there was no one present with her during the weigh-in, as she was required to be in her room wearing light clothing. She then sent a picture of the scale showing 54 kilograms.”
However, the following day, Saturday, “she woke up at 6 a.m. to everyone’s surprise, having gained 700 grams.”
“It could be a medical reason.”
Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, A photo published by the Egyptian Boxing Federation, which claimed to show Yamna Ayad’s scales on the night of the match, showing her weight at 54 kilograms.
However, from a medical standpoint, it is possible for a girl to “gain weight within a few hours,” particularly a few days before her menstrual period, according to Dr. Sidra Al-Sheikh, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at the Global Medical Center, in a statement to the BBC.
Yamna Ayad, 19 years old, made history by becoming the first female boxer to qualify for the Olympics in Egypt’s history. She has been training for this event for three years and has achieved remarkable results for women’s boxing in Egypt, including winning Egypt’s first medal in the Mediterranean Games and earning an African medal in the sport.
The draw had placed Yamna against the Uzbek champion in the 54 kg weight class in the round of 32, but she did not compete and was disqualified before the event because her weight exceeded that of her opponent, violating boxing rules, which categorize athletes based on their weight.
When asked about what transpired in the player’s room and whether the scale was checked or if only the image sent by the player was used, Ghanem stated in interviews that he was unaware of what the player did in her room, or what she consumed to gain weight overnight, noting that an investigation was ongoing with her.
Gained a kilo and a half before the tournament
Despite the declarations from the head of the Boxing Federation, the deputy head of the mission, Sherif El-Erian, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, revealed a shocking admission that Yamna had been struggling with excess weight two days before the competitions, which the mission was aware of. He referred to the incident as a “serious mistake” for which everyone is accountable.
El-Arian added in television remarks, “Her weight was one and a half kilos over the limit 48 hours before the competition, but she returned to her appropriate weight on the night of the match.”
Regarding the reason for the weight gain again, the Secretary-General of the Egyptian Olympic Committee stated that, “There is no cause for the increase apart from eating and drinking,” attributing this to the young age of the player and her lack of athletic experience, noting that this was her first time competing in the Olympics.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 1
However, Dr. Sidra Al-Sheikh emphasized that there is a possibility for a girl’s weight to increase by “700 grams to 2 kilograms” in the three days preceding her menstrual period.
She added to the BBC: “Even if she wishes to postpone her period, the medical team supporting her should pay attention to this and manage her weight in anticipation of any sudden gain.”
This point was also confirmed by Ghanem, the deputy head of the mission, who mentioned that he met with the player, spoke with her about her night activities, and that she indicated she felt some “physiological changes” upon waking up in the morning. He emphasized that they would try to “support her” due to her young age, without providing additional details.
When asked about the implications of physiological changes, Dr. Sidra explained that these changes may signal the onset of menstruation, which can also lead to weight gain.
She mentioned that physiological changes might also be “precursors and symptoms of the menstrual cycle,” appearing days before its expected arrival, and these symptoms can persist even if the player takes hormonal medications to delay it. Fluid retention, resulting from hormonal changes leading to the body not expelling excess fluids, is a significant factor contributing to weight gain.
Some have criticized the Boxing Federation President’s handling of the situation, blaming the player entirely without acknowledging any negligence from the administrative or medical staff, in addition to his comment that Yamna was not even expected to “win a medal” in the first place.
One woman tweeted on the X platform: “Is anyone being held accountable or punished? There is negligence, and the evidence lies in the way the head of the Boxing Federation interacts with the public and the media.”
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 2
Image source, Social Media
Comment on the image, Yamna Ayad after winning the African Championship
It is understood that there is a detailed and strict nutritional plan for all athletes when preparing for championships, and during the Olympics, a nutrition expert and a physician monitor the athletes’ diets and the timing of their meals closely.
Ahmed Zahran, a sports nutrition expert at an Egyptian sports institution, informed the BBC that every athlete’s food is measured in grams and calories, and their entire lifestyle is under medical and training supervision, especially before major events, as players cannot consume any food or take anything without the coaches’ knowledge.
Concerning the possibility of Yamna concealing food or eating something in her room after the weigh-in, El-Arian ruled out such an occurrence and insisted that everything is overseen by the trainers. He confirmed that he was in Paris and would review investigations and reports from officials to uncover the truth behind the incident.
Zahran also added that players refrain from eating before weigh-ins, adhering to a fasting period of one to two days, and they employ methods to “eliminate water” from their bodies and any “waste in the intestines” to achieve weight loss.
He clarified that once the official weigh-in is complete, the athlete is free to eat whatever they wish, especially energy-dense foods rich in calories to recover energy before competition.
Questions, accusations, and mockery
Social media in Egypt exploded with comments regarding the news of Yamna Ayad’s exclusion from the competition. Reactions ranged widely from mockery to questions needing answers, alongside accusations of negligence and malpractice by mission officials.
One user remarked that “minor details” deprived Egypt of its first women’s Olympic boxing competition, and suggested that stress might have caused Yamna to “retain water” and thus gain weight.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 3
However, these details also fall under the responsibility of coaches, medical staff, and the fitness trainer supervising the player, who did not adequately prepare her or assist her in eliminating excess water weight.
In a tweet on the X platform, the user argued that “the athlete must be ready at least four hours before the match, by using the restroom to relieve themselves of digestive waste and fluids, and should also have laxatives available for this purpose.”
He cautioned that simply consuming 300 grams of meat, bread, and vegetables, along with 500 milliliters of fluids, could lead to an additional 800-900 grams being retained in the body.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 4
Supporters of Yamna defended her, highlighting her historic achievements at a young age, including winning an African silver medal and being the first girl in Egypt to qualify for the Olympics in boxing. They pointed out that she is not from Cairo but hails from Damietta Governorate, northeast of the Nile Delta, where she trains in the sport she loves.
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 5
One user considered the incident to be a case of neglect and a misuse of public funds, tweeting on the X platform, “Millions of dollars are spent on certain games with no gain in a country that has private hospitals for the underprivileged.”
They ridiculed the Egyptian player for supposedly eating stuffed vegetables the night before the match, commenting, “The hotel had stuffed cabbage and zucchini while the girl lost weight in front of the stuffed vegetables. She has been meticulously consuming meat, chicken, and fish for months, and thought to herself, ‘I only had a little stuffed vegetables.'”
This page contains content from Twitter. Your consent is required before viewing any material as it may include cookies and other technology. You may prefer to view Cookie Policy Twitter specific Privacy Policy Before agreeing. To view the content, select “Agree and Complete”
Accept and continue
Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
End of Twitter Share, 6
Yamna Ayad: A Historic Milestone in Egyptian Women’s Boxing
Image source: Social Media
Comment on the image: Yamna Ayad is the first girl in Egypt’s history to participate in boxing competitions in the Olympics.
Author: Abdel Moneim Halawa – BBC Cairo
Published: 3 hours ago
Exclusion from the Paris Olympics: A Controversial Incident
A huge uproar was caused by the story of the exclusion of Egyptian boxer Yamna Ayad from the Paris Olympics without having played any match. This occurred on Saturday due to Ayad being overweight, exceeding the required weight for competition of 54 kilograms.
Statements from Officials
The controversy was heightened by statements from Abdel Aziz Ghoneim, the head of the Egyptian Boxing Federation and deputy head of the Olympic mission. He expressed difficulty in knowing the reason behind her exclusion and identifying the responsible parties for depriving Egypt of its historic participation in women’s boxing competitions.
Ghoneim mentioned in televised statements, “Yamna did weight-control exercises on Friday evening, and no one was with her during the weigh-in, as she had to be in her room wearing light clothes. Then she sent a picture of the scale, and it was set at 54 kilograms.” However, on the day of the competition, Ayad reportedly woke up at 6 a.m. to everyone’s surprise, having gained 700 grams.
“It Could Be a Medical Reason.”
Dr. Sidra Al-Sheikh, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at the Global Medical Center, stated that gaining weight within hours could be medically possible, especially a few days before menstruation. Yamna Ayad, at just 19 years old, had already achieved historic feats as the first female boxer to qualify for the Olympics in Egypt’s history.
Her preparation for this event lasted three years, resulting in notable achievements such as winning Egypt’s first medal in the Mediterranean Games and an African medal in boxing.
Match Expectations and Disqualification
The draw had placed Yamna in a match against the Uzbek champion in the 54 kg weight class in the round of 32. However, her disqualification before the competition occurred due to her weight exceeding that of her competitor, violating boxing’s weight classification rules.
The head of the Boxing Federation, Ghoneim, remarked on the state of affairs within her room and whether the scale was indeed checked or just the image was used. An investigation was announced to determine the facts surrounding this situation.
Weight Management Challenges
Despite Ghoneim’s assertions, further revelations emerged from Sherif El-Erian, Secretary General of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, who acknowledged that Yamna was struggling with excess weight two days prior to the competition. He labeled the situation as a “grave mistake” and stated that they were aware of her weight issues leading up to the event.
El-Arian added, “Her weight was one and a half kilos extra 48 hours before the competition, but she returned to her appropriate weight on the night of the match.” He attributed any subsequent increase to eating and drinking, underscoring the player’s youth and lack of Olympic experience as contributing factors.
Physiological Considerations and Medical Insights
Dr. Al-Sheikh highlighted that physiological changes, including potential menstruation onset, can lead to temporary weight gain. This can particularly manifest in young athletes where hormonal fluctuations are frequent. Addressing the importance of monitoring such physiological changes and providing adequate support to young athletes, she noted, “Even if she wants to delay her period, the medical team accompanying her must pay attention to this matter.”
Responsibility and Accountability
The blame fell heavily on the player alone, according to some critics of the Boxing Federation president. Many took to social media to question the lack of accountability among administrative or medical staff, especially considering Yamna was not seen as a “medal contender.”
Social media platforms in Egypt buzzed with mixed reactions, ranging from ridicule to calls for answers regarding the management of the boxing delegation. Questions circulated about the adequacy of support provided to the athlete prior to the competition, given her notable achievements, including an African silver medal.
The Significance of Proper Nutrition and Monitoring
A strict nutritional program is critical to any athlete’s success, especially during Olympic training. According to Ahmed Zahran, a sports nutrition expert, athletes are subjected to detailed calorie and dietary monitoring. Food consumption is calculated meticulously in preparation for major tournaments, and any deviation can significantly impact weight management.
The protocols recommend that players refrain from eating any solid food prior to the weigh-in period, during which they often undergo water-retention management techniques. Only after the official weigh-in are they permitted to consume energy-rich foods to replenish lost energy.
Challenges Faced by Athletes
- Potential weight fluctuations due to hormonal changes
- Physical and emotional stress leading to abnormal weight retention
- The need for proper oversight from coaches and medical staff
Public Reactions and Concerns
With the news of Yamna’s exclusion igniting a wave of discussion online, people expressed concern over the management’s handling of the incident and what it signified for the future of women’s boxing in Egypt. Many defended Yamna, highlighting her achievements and the unique challenges she faced as a young female athlete.
An X platform user cynically expressed, “Simple details denied Egypt its first women’s Olympic boxing competition.” Another emphasized the need for all participants and their teams to be aware of necessary protocols leading up to competitions, particularly regarding dietary adjustments.
Addressing Mistakes and Moving Forward
Some called for greater accountability among coaches and administrators, suggesting that lapses in oversight fell beyond the individual responsibility of the athlete. “The athlete must be prepared at least four hours before the match,” one commentator suggested, emphasizing the importance of pre-competition protocols.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for Women in Sports
Yamna Ayad’s story serves as a pivotal moment for women in sports in Egypt and across the globe. As the first female boxer to qualify for the Olympics from Egypt, her journey reflects not only her personal ambitions but also the evolving narrative of women’s participation in athletics. Her historic accomplishments deserve recognition, and as discussions unfold regarding her situation, they also pave the way for advancements in support systems for female athletes in sports.
