The International Boxing Association (IBA) has explained why it has disqualified two boxers currently competing in the Olympics, following growing controversy over the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow them to take part in this year’s Paris Olympics.
The IOC has defended its decision to allow the controversial boxers to compete, arguing that it had allowed Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting and Algeria’s Imane Khelif to compete under the IBA’s 2016 rules, after which they could compete under IBA jurisdiction. However, the IBA changed the rules in 2022 and both boxers have since been barred from competing in IBA-sanctioned competitions.
IBA president Umar Kremlev explained the decision at the time, as reported by Russia’s TASS news agency to Fox.
“DNA tests revealed that several athletes had tried to deceive their colleagues by passing themselves off as female. The tests showed that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes have been excluded from competition,” Kremlyov said. Said.
The IOC declared that because both Yuting and Khelif claim to be women, that was enough for the IOC to allow them to compete in the women’s division. However, Khelif then fought her first women’s bout in Paris against Italian boxer Angela Carini, forcing the Italian to withdraw after just 46 seconds.
Carini said afterwards that he quickly gave up because he had “never been hit so badly in my life.”
“I have never suffered such a terrible blow in my life. It’s up to the IOC to decide.”
Italy’s Angela Carini lasted just 46 seconds against intersex athlete Imane Kherif of Algeria.
Biological fire at the Paris Olympics. pic.twitter.com/BQRTF9Dc3m
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) August 1, 2024
Now the IBA has stepped in to explain why Yuting and Kheriff were disqualified from the recently sanctioned women’s match in 2023.
“On 24 March 2023, the IBA disqualified Lin Yuting and Imane Kherif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023 due to their failure to fulfil the eligibility criteria for participation in the women’s competition as set out in the IBA Rules. This decision, taken after thorough consideration, was crucial and necessary to maintain the fairness and utmost integrity of the competition,” the IBA said. Said He said in a press release.
The organisation added that neither boxer had undergone testosterone testing and instead “underwent separate recognised testing, the details of which are being kept confidential”.
IBA Added“The tests revealed that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility standards and possessed a competitive advantage over other female athletes.”
The group continued to point out that Lin Yuting did not appeal her disqualification, so “the decision is legally binding.” Kheriff appealed, but his case was withdrawn before it could be concluded, making the decision “legally binding.”
“Our committee has rigorously reviewed and approved the decisions taken during the World Championships. While the IBA remains committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all our events, we express concern at the inconsistent application of the qualification criteria by other sports organisations, including the body that oversees the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing rules on these issues, in which the IBA has no involvement, raise serious questions about both the fairness of competition and the safety of athletes,” the IBA wrote.
In conclusion, the group urged people to focus their questions about these fighters on the Olympics and not the IBA.
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