IBA press convention descends into CHAOS amid boxing eligibility row
- Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting’s presence at the Olympics has been contentious
- Both fighters were disqualified from the World Championships back in 2023
- The IBA claimed that both Yu-Ting and Khelif failed gender eligibility tests
The International Boxing Association (IBA) held a bizarre and farcical press conference on Monday where they further called into question the eligibility of two female boxers at the Olympics.
It has been a hugely controversial few days in Paris, with Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan‘s Lin Yu-Ting both generating much contention through their participation in the women’s boxing in Paris.
Both fighters were disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year when the IBA claimed they had failed gender eligibility tests.
The duo have reached the semi-finals of the Olympics, meaning they are both guaranteed at least bronze medals, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly defending their right to compete.
And, on Monday, the IBA called a news conference in Paris in regards to the gender of Khelif and Yu-Ting, but the briefing subsequently descended into chaos.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) held a bizarre press conference on Monday where they further called into question the eligibility of two female boxers at the Olympics
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s participation in the women’s boxing has been very contentious
Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan were disqualified at the World Championships last year after the IBA claimed they had failed gender eligibility tests, but the IOC admitted them to Paris
IBA president Umar Kremlev began – after an hour delay – by criticising the Olympics opening ceremony and raised his concerns about the portrayal of Christianity within it.
However, his opening address, which came via live video link, was disrupted by sound issues.
Chris Roberts, the IBA CEO, then explained how Khelif and Yu-Ting were both subjected to two blood tests – one in 2022 and one in 2023.
These came after they received complaints from coaches and competitors during the 2022 World Boxing Championships.
He said that the results ‘demonstrated the chromosomes we refer to in competition rules that make both boxers ineligible’.
He later added: ‘We are not in a position due to medical confidence to give you the test itself.’
However, Roberts spoke about how Khelif and Yu-Ting were informed in writing that they were found to have XY chromosomes, with each given the opportunity to appeal the findings to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The IBA subsequently offered to pay for the majority of the costs to allow both boxers to appeal, but Yu-Ting opted not to, while Khelif launched an appeal, before later reversing her decision.
Kremlev then went onto repeat his criticism of the opening ceremony, while he also accused the IOC of ‘destroying feminine sport’, before he hinted the IBA would pay ‘compensation to all women who have suffered’ as a result of the two boxers taking part in Paris.
‘We got the test results that they allowed us to take themselves and these tests show they have a high level of testosterone like a man. A man’s level of testosterone,’ he added.
The Russian similarly went on to double down on his criticism of IOC chief Thomas Bach, who he labelled as a ‘chief sodomite’.
On Saturday, Bach had defended Khelif and Yu-Ting as he said: ‘We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who have been raised as a woman, who have a passport as a woman and who have competed for many years as a woman.
‘This is the clear definition of a woman.’
The press conference later became more shambolic as two loud electrical bangs were heard inside the room, before Kremlev’s translator struggled to keep up with the Russian’s rant, meaning the majority of those in attendance were unable to understand what was going on.
IBA president Umar Kremlev launched an astonishing rant about the opening ceremony
Chris Roberts, the IBA CEO, explained how both boxers were deemed ‘ineligible’ after tests
Dr Ioannis Filippatos, the former Chair of IBA Medical Committee, also spoke at the press conference in an attempt to explain the results of the tests, with the doctor saying: ‘The results (of the test) suggest that the boxers are male.’
However, this did little to satisfy the room, with the press conference further descending into chaos as several journalists ended up shouting over the doctor, who shouted in response to the audience: ‘Why do you attack me’?
There were several other instances of journalists from all over the world shouting over the IBA representatives.
Reuters chose to their stream of the press conference, while the BBC walked before the end in protest.
The Russian-led IBA has come under criticism in recent times for its alleged close ties to the Kremlin, with the IBA having Russian state-backed energy company Gazprom as one of its main sponsors during Kremlev’s tenure.
It has been suspended by the IOC since 2019 because of concerns over its finances, governance, ethics, refereeing and judging.
After Khelif and Yu-Ting had been cleared to compete in Paris, the Olympics website had noted that they had been disqualified from the World Championships by The International Boxing Association (IBA) when their elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria.
Kremlev – who ran that competition – said at the time that further DNA tests had ‘proved they had XY chromosomes’. In short, that they had been deemed ‘biologically male’.
On the eve of Thursday’s hugely controversial fight between Khelif and Italian opponent Angela Carini – who withdrew after being hit twice within 46 seconds – the IBA then released a statement clarifying why the Algerian and Yu-Tin had been disqualified from last year’s World Championships.
It cited a ‘meticulous’ review which ‘was extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition’.
Kremlev went onto repeat his criticism of IOC chief Thomas Bach as a ‘chief sodomite’
Dr Ioannis Filippatos, the former Chair of IBA Medical Committee, also spoke at the press conference but he was involved in a heated argument with journalists who were in attendance
Khelif came under huge criticism after she beat Angela Carini within 46 seconds last week
The missive added that no testosterone examinations were held, rather ‘a separate and recognised test, whereby the specifics remain confidential’. That examination ‘conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors’.
The IBA said the ban was also based on tests conducted at the World Boxing Championships in 2022 and said – significantly – that Khelif withdrew an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, rendering the decision legally binding.
In a dig at the IOC, they ‘expressed concern over the inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by other sporting organisations, including those overseeing the Olympic Games’. ‘The IOC’s differing regulations on these matters raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety,’ they added.
Yu-Ting is now set to take on Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in Wednesday’s semi-finals, while Khelif will face Janjaem Suwannapheng in the ring on Tuesday.
