IBA issued a statement regarding the gender of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, after Imane Khelif won the Olympic gold medal

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has ignited a significant controversy by declaring two female boxers, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, as male based on gender tests. However, the organization has failed to provide concrete evidence to support these claims, sparking a heated debate within the sports community.

Earlier in 2023, the IBA disqualified Khelif and Lin from the World Boxing Championships, citing that they did not pass gender verification tests. This decision was met with strong opposition, especially after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed both athletes to compete in the 2024 Olympics.

The controversy deepened as the IOC had previously stripped the IBA of its authority over boxing in the Olympics due to issues of corruption and mismanagement.

On August 5, during a press conference, IBA President Umar Kremlev stated, “Tests have shown that they are male. We did not verify what they have between their legs. We do not know if they were born this way or if any changes have been made.” Kremlev’s comments, made via video call, were met with skepticism as no direct evidence was provided to substantiate the claim.

The IBA presented a brief document during the press conference, claiming that tests had detected XY chromosomes in the samples taken from both athletes.

They referenced “abnormal results” from blood tests conducted during the 2022 World Championships in Istanbul, which were reportedly repeated in the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi. Despite these claims, the type of tests conducted remains unspecified, and the IBA failed to provide independent verification of their findings.

The press conference quickly descended into chaos. Issues with audio and a series of loud noises interrupted Kremlev’s speech, leading to confusion and frustration among attendees. The translation of Kremlev’s speech was also problematic, leaving many unsure of the exact statements made. Major media outlets like Reuters halted their live coverage, and the BBC left the event early in protest.

Following the press conference, the Algerian Olympic Committee strongly refuted the IBA’s claims regarding Khelif, stating, “Algeria is not a member of the IBA. We do not recognize their legitimacy. Our champion, Imane Khelif, will not be intimidated by the IBA’s baseless claims.” Support for Khelif and Lin also came from IOC President Thomas Bach and other high-ranking sports officials from Algeria and Taiwan.

Despite the ongoing controversy, both Khelif and Lin continue their Olympic campaigns. Khelif is set to compete in the women’s 66kg semifinal against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, while Lin will face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the women’s 57kg semifinal.

This incident raises critical questions about the IBA’s credibility and the handling of sensitive gender-related issues in sports. As the debate continues, the sports world watches closely to see how the situation will unfold.