THE International Boxing Association today said the International Olympic Committee ignored their concerns about Imane Khelif and Yu Ting Lin ahead of the Paris Olympics.
The Algerian and Taiwanese boxers have been the most talked about athletes in the world over the last few days.
The storm started after Italian southpaw Angela Carini folded in only 46 seconds of the welterweight clash with Khelif last Thursday.
Carini refused to continue after being hit by a pair of clean rights and Khelif has gone on to reach the semi finals.
The 25 year old faces Janjaem Suwannapheng tomorrow, while Lin meets Esra Yildiz for a place in the featherweight final on Wednesday.
Khelif and Lin had both been disqualified from last year’s World Championships ran by IBA for failing “eligibility tests.”
IBA said at the time that both boxers had returned XY chromosome tests that is typically found in males.
Women usually have XX test results and Borislav Georgivev, the Bulgarian coach of Svetlana Staneva, held up a note to the press that read: ‘I only want to play with women. I am XX’ after Staneva’s loss to Lin.
Georgiev explained: “I wrote the message, but it comes from every single woman boxer in the tournament.”
IBA called what proved to be a chaotic and heated press conference in the heart of Paris today where they were represented by Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE, Dr Ioannis Filippatos and Gabrielle Martelli, IBA Coaches’ Committee Chairman.
IBA President Umar Kremlev joined via a video link.
Roberts said concerns were raised during the 2022 Women’s World Championships in New Delhi.
He said: “The trainers told us: ‘They are genetically stronger and you have to do something.’ We ran blood tests to check the situation.”
Dr Filippatos confirmed four boxers were tested and “two had abnormal chromosome.”
Roberts was asked to explain why there were no further tests until the following year’s World Championship.
“This was new for us,” he explained. “One result came from the laboratory and we waited for the next tournament to do the next test. The next time we tested in a different lab, the test was conclusive.”
Dr Filippatos said: “The medical results say this boxer is male. We have two blood test that say she is not a woman. Khelif is one very good boxer, but I need to protect the women’s category.”
Dr Filippatos also spelled out the dangers of allowing someone with XY chromosomes to compete against an XX athlete in boxing.
He says medical research has shown an XY athlete has a “162 per cent” harder punch.
He added: “The XY athlete has different power.”
As has been reported, Khelif appealed after being disqualified from the World Championships and then withdrew her appeal, while there was no appeal from the Taiwanese.
Roberts said IBA had agreed to pay part of the appeal costs, with the boxer finding the rest.
Roberts added: “The information (about the failed tests) was given to the IOC some time back, in 2023. The results were communicated to the IOC and they have done nothing with it.”
He added that the fighters were cleared to compete on the IOC’s “own criteria, which I believe is their passport.”
IBA have been accused of trying to discredit the IOC after having their status withdrawn as amateur boxing’s governing body following investigations after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Roberts said: “It was not something (the test results) we raised prior to the event.
“This has come about because of the result of the Italian boxer’s (Carini) result against Khelif. The Italian boxer didn’t perform. It turned into a disaster.”
Roberts added: “I have had letters today from two NOCs (the National Olympic Committees of Algeria and Taiwan) to say we cannot announce the results (of the tests).
“You can read between the lines.”
IBA President Umar Kremlev was typically bullish when he spoke to reporters via a video link.
He said: “The tests have shown these are men.
“I don’t know if they were born like that. We were sent the tests and the second test confirmed the first.
“The test shows the testosterone level is very high, men’s level.
“We sent all the details to the IOC and they dismissed our information and didn’t make their own checks.
“If you have doubts, ask them for another test. The chromosomes can prove if they are woman or man.”
Kremlev offered compensation to the boxers who have lost to Lin and Khelif in Paris.
He has already said he is willing to pay Carini $50,000.
The chaotic press conference broke up after reporters spotted Algerian boxer Roumaysa Boualem sitting at the back with an Algerian flag draped across her.
Attention turned away from the IBA representatives and to her.
Boualem lost her opening contest in Paris at light-flyweight and said: “Of course (it has affected her).
“This is not correct. She is strong. She will fight.”
