The International Boxing Association held a chaotic news conference in Paris, addressing the controversial eligibility tests that resulted in the suspension of boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from last year’s world championships. The lack of transparency surrounding the tests and disqualifications sparked online abuse directed at the athletes during the ongoing Paris Games.
Despite mounting pressure for answers, the IBA chose to withhold key details about the tests and their outcomes. The decision to disqualify Khelif from Algeria and Lin from Taiwan has stirred a debate over gender misconceptions and identity in sports, amid broader discussions on fairness and transparency.
Chris Roberts, the IBA’s secretary general, cited letters from the Olympic committees of Algeria and Taiwan as reasons for not disclosing more information during the news conference. The revelations that did emerge painted a critical picture of the governing body, which has faced criticism over a lack of transparency in the past.
The former chair of the IBA’s medical committee revealed that only a small number of fighters underwent blood tests at the 2022 world championships, raising concerns about the consistency of testing protocols. President Umar Kremlev later referenced elevated testosterone levels in the tests, contradicting earlier statements by the IBA regarding the nature of the examinations.
The IBA’s explanations for the delayed suspensions of Khelif and Lin from competition raised further questions, with Roberts attributing the delay to logistical constraints during the tournament. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the testing results provided by the IBA as flawed and unmanageable.
Kremlev used his platform to criticize the IOC and its President Thomas Bach, pledging to take legal action against them. The IOC, in response, questioned the credibility of the IBA based on the disarray of the press conference and its handling of the situation.
While the IBA sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the controversial tests, technical issues and off-topic rants marred the event in Paris. The conference ended with reporters walking away from Kremlev’s anti-IOC rhetoric to speak with supporters of Khelif, who have faced intense scrutiny throughout the ordeal.
Both Khelif and Lin, who will compete for medals at Roland Garros, decided against appealing their disqualifications from the world championships. The financial burden of challenging the rulings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport was cited as a significant obstacle for athletes seeking to contest decisions made by the IBA.
