The International Boxing Association (IBA) has responded to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying its decision to disqualify Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting from its 2023 world championships was “justified” based on evidence from that year and in 2022.
The IBA said World Boxing, which was created to become the sport's governing body following its split from the IOC, had stepped up its efforts to make athletes ineligible to compete in its own newly announced events. Khelif was allowed to compete in two World Boxing events earlier this year.
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A split between Imane Khelif, left, and Lin Yu-Ting. (Fake Images)
“We do not understand at all why an organisation would put a boxer at risk of something that could lead to a serious injury on the 'field of play' (FOP). The primary role of the referee in the ring is to manage the safety of the boxer at all times. How is this reasonably possible when a boxer does not meet the eligibility criteria to compete?” the IBA said.
“The IBA will never support any boxing match between the sexes as the organisation prioritises the safety and wellbeing of our athletes. We are protecting our women and their rights to compete in the ring against equal opponents, and we will defend and support them at all times; their hopes and dreams must never be taken away by organisations unwilling to do the right thing in difficult circumstances.
“The IBA maintains its position and will continue to support all athletes within the spirit of the rules.”
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A delegate sits in front of the association's logo at the founding congress of the new World Boxing Association. (Arne Dedert/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
At the time of Khelif's disqualification, IBA president Umar Kremlev said: “Based on DNA evidence, we identified several athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women.
“According to the test results, they were found to have XY chromosomes. These athletes were excluded from the competition.”
The IOC has maintained its stance on allowing Khelif to compete at the Olympics despite outrage over Thursday's match against Angela Carini and Lin's inability to compete on Friday.
“These two athletes were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC said. “Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.
“According to the IBA minutes available on its website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO. The IBA Board only subsequently ratified it and only subsequently requested that a procedure be established to be followed in similar cases in the future and reflected in the IBA Rules. The minutes also say that the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing.”
The flag of the International Olympic Committee is raised during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Christophe Petit Tesson/PA Images via Getty Images)
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“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure, especially considering that these athletes had been competing in high-level competitions for many years.”
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