Getty Image
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took direct aim at the IBA on Friday when addressing the controversy surrounding women’s boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria Taiwan’s Lin Yu Ting.
Both Khelif and Ting allegedly failed an “eligibility” test at the IBA world championships a year ago, leading to conspiracy theories suggesting that both women are not, in fact, women.
Of course, that’s a ridiculous suggestion and there’s no actually credible evidence to suggest as much.
IOC Statement Slams IBA Amid Gender Controversy At Olympics
“Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,” the IOC said in a statement on Friday. “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).”
The IOC then took direct aim at the International Boxing Association, which presented dubious at best evidence of its claims and has since been kicked out of boxing at the Olympics, which it previously ran.
“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,” the statement read. “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 afterward 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.'”
Both Ting and Khelif won their opening-round matches. Notably, Khelif’s opponent, Italy’s Angela Carinia, quit after taking just one punch from the Algerian star.