When International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach declared that his organisation can’t define a woman, it wasn’t a huge surprise to those who have followed this issue closely. But more casual observers will probably need an explanation. At the heart of that explanation is a peculiar alliance between academic advocates of gender theory and old-fashioned male chauvinists in sports governance. But how has this alliance come about? And why does it compel someone like Bach to deliver nonsensical public statements?