Paris, France | THE INDEPENDENT | International Boxing Association (IBA) and the International Olympics Committee have jumped into the ring at the ongoing France 2024 Olympics.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), that is not recognised by the IOC, have questioned the decision to allow boxers Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif who have “competitive advantages”, and who social media has described as ‘men’, to compete in the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting and Algerian Imane Khelif have so far destroyed all their opponents, leaving them in tears.
“On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023. This disqualification was a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out in the IBA Regulations,” IBA said in a statement.
They concluded by saying, “For clarification on why the IOC permits athletes with competitive advantages to compete in their events, we urge interested parties to seek answers directly from the IOC.”
The IOC counter-punched. “As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport,” they responded.
IOC in a statement further charged that the IBA decision to disqualify the two boxers was based entirely on an arbitrary decision, “which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”
“Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence,” they added.
Algeria united in support
In a powerful demonstration of national unity, Algeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderrahmane Hammad, has extended unequivocal support to Algerian athlete Imane Khelif, who has recently faced unjust and immoral attacks from foreign media, reports Dzair Tube Media Group.
In a statement underscoring the nation’s solidarity, Hammad declared, “The entire Algeria, both people and government, stands behind her.” This resolute backing reflects the government’s commitment to defending its athletes against baseless and unethical criticisms.
Hammad condemned the foreign press’s derogatory coverage, emphasizing that such attacks are not only contrary to moral standards but also undermine the values of Olympism. “I denounce the foreign press’s assaults on our athlete. These attacks go against the principles of morality and the spirit of the Olympics,” he asserted. The minister’s strong stance highlights the government’s dedication to supporting its sports representatives in the face of unjust scrutiny.
Adding to the outpouring of support, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee (COA) has also rallied behind Khelif, issuing a robust denunciation of the malicious and unethical attacks leveled against her by some international media outlets. In their statement, the COA described these defamatory efforts as “completely unjust,” particularly during a crucial period as Khelif prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games. “The COA firmly condemns these attempts at defamation, which are based on falsehoods. We have taken all necessary measures to safeguard our champion,” the committee announced. The COA reaffirmed its solidarity with Khelif, stating, “We are all with you, Imane. The entire nation supports you and takes pride in your achievements and the honor you bring to Algeria.”
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FULL IBA STATEMENT
As stated, the International Boxing Association (IBA) feels it appropriate at this prevalent time, to address recent media statements regarding those athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif, particularly regarding their participation in the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
We wish to make the following points in these regards:
On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023. This disqualification was a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out in the IBA Regulations. This decision, made after a meticulous review, was extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.
Point to note, the athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognized test, whereby the specifics remain confidential. This test 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 decision made by IBA on 24 March 2023, was subsequently ratified by the IBA Board of Directors on 25 March 2023. The official record of this decision can be accessed on the IBA website here IBA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes.
The disqualification was based on two tests conducted on both athletes as follows:
- Test performed during the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul 2022.
- Test performed during the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi 2023.
For clarification
- Lin Yu-ting did not appeal the IBA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), thus rendering the decision legally binding.
- Imane Khelif initially appealed the decision to CAS but withdrew the appeal during the process, also making the IBA decision legally binding.
Our Committees have rigorously reviewed and endorsed the decision made during the World Championships. While IBA remains committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all of our events, we express concern over the inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by other sporting organizations, including those overseeing the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing regulations on these matters, in which IBA is not involved, raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety.
For clarification on why the IOC permits athletes with competitive advantages to compete in their events, we urge interested parties to seek answers directly from the IOC.
Yours sincerely,
International Boxing Association
FULL IOC STATEMENT
Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination.
All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) (please find all applicable rules here). As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.
These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games, the ad hoc 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar (SEN) and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio (ITA) and Bangkok (THA) in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes, and featured over 2,000 qualification bouts.
The PBU used the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline to develop its regulations for Paris 2024. This was to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparations and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games. These Tokyo 2020 rules were based on the post-Rio 2016 rules, which were in place before the suspension of the boxing International Federation by the IOC in 2019 and the subsequent withdrawal of its recognition in 2023.
We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. 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 their website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO. The IBA Board only ratified it afterwards and only subsequently requested that a procedure to follow in similar cases in the future be established and reflected in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also say that the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing”.
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 top-level competition for many years.
Such an approach is contrary to good governance.
Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence.
The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.
The IBA’s recognition was withdrawn by the IOC in 2023 following its suspension in 2019. The withdrawal of recognition was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). See the IOC’s statement following the ruling.
The IOC has made it clear that it needs National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation in order for boxing to be included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games LA28.