Boxing, Olympics 2024: IOC stands by Imane Khelif; IBA calls out inconsistent eligibility criteria

On Friday the International Olympic Committee supported the inclusion of two boxers in the women's competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while the International Boxing Association demanded their removal as a result of failing gender eligibility tests last year.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s 46-second win at the Paris Olympics on Thursday sparked a furious row about gender eligibility rules.

Also read: Boxing, Olympics 2024: Why Angela Carini abandoned her bout against Imane Khelif in 46 seconds

Last year, Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships over “elevated testosterone levels”, according to her profile on the Paris Games website.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu Ting from Taiwan was stripped of her bronze medal at the championship after undergoing “biochemical” tests that were mandated by the IBA.

Additionally, for context, the IBA was effectively expelled from the Olympic movement following a bitter dispute between the IOC and Russian oligarch and IBA President Umar Kremlev.

Last year, the IOC withdrew recognition of the IBA citing long standing issues with governance, financial transparency, and perceived corruption.

Instead of the IBA, the IOC now relies on the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, an ad-hoc committee it established to set eligibility standards in the Olympics.

IOC stands by athletes

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