Daily TribuneBoxing federation challenges IOC’s decision to allow female athletes with high testosterone levels to compete
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Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association (IBA)
Photo from IBA
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has announced its decision to take legal action against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the participation of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in the women’s boxing tournaments at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This move follows the recent executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which bans transgender women from competing in women’s sports categories in the United States.
The IBA, chaired by Umar Kremlev, has long maintained strict gender eligibility rules. In 2023, it disqualified Khelif and Lin from the World Championships in New Delhi after gender tests allegedly revealed high testosterone levels and XY chromosomes. Despite these findings, the IOC allowed both athletes to compete in Paris, where they went on to win gold medals in their respective categories. The IBA argues that this decision denied opportunities to other female boxers and undermined fairness in women’s sports.
In response, the IBA announced that it would file an official complaint with the Swiss Attorney General, Stefan Blätter, accusing the IOC of facilitating the participation of ineligible athletes. Additional complaints will also be lodged with the Attorneys General of France and the United States.
President Umar Kremlev defended the IBA’s stance, stating:
“President Trump’s order validates our efforts to protect the integrity of women’s sports. Our actions aim to ensure gender equality in boxing. We urge other International Federations to follow our example and uphold fair competition.”
The IBA is also offering legal support to boxers who feel disadvantaged by the IOC’s decision. Kremlev called for IOC President Thomas Bach and Sports Director Kit McConnell to be held accountable, urging impacted athletes to pursue lawsuits against them.
“The IBA will provide comprehensive and free legal support to our boxers in these lawsuits. This is a clear violation of human rights and a crime that must be punished,” Kremlev added.
The controversy surrounding Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting intensified during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Khelif secured gold in the 66-kilogram category, but her dominant performances, including a powerful knockout win in just 46 seconds, led to criticism from rival athletes. Italian boxer Angela Carini was among those who protested Khelif’s participation, arguing that her high testosterone levels provided an unfair advantage.
Lin Yu-ting, who won gold in the 57-kilogram category, also faced scrutiny. After her victory, she made four bows to acknowledge the audience before kneeling in the ring, visibly relieved after enduring criticism throughout the tournament.
The IOC dismissed the IBA’s gender tests as “flawed and illegitimate,” asserting that Khelif and Lin were born female, held female passports, and had always competed as women. However, critics argue that the IOC’s decision undermines fairness in women’s boxing.
Dr. Ioannis Filippatos, President of the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC), has backed the IBA’s stance, stating:
“No hormone therapy, surgery, or manipulation can fully eliminate an athlete’s biological advantages. Gender is determined at conception, and physiological differences between men and women persist even after testosterone suppression.”
Filippatos highlighted key biological differences, noting that male-born athletes have:
90% greater upper body strength
162% more punch power
50% higher lung ventilation
43% stronger hearts
10% longer bones and 83% stronger tendons
These factors, he argues, create an inherent advantage in combat sports like boxing, making gender eligibility a critical issue.
The IBA has announced that it will reinforce gender verification measures at the upcoming Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš, Serbia. Secretary General Chris Roberts confirmed that Khelif will not be eligible to compete, and that random gender tests will be conducted throughout the tournament.
“Our technical rules clearly define the requirements for participation. We will implement strict eligibility testing to preserve the integrity of women’s boxing,” Roberts stated.
The legal battle between the IBA and the IOC is the latest flashpoint in the global debate over transgender and gender-variant athletes in women’s sports. With Trump’s executive order fueling discussions, sports organizations worldwide may soon face pressure to tighten gender eligibility rules.
As this controversy unfolds, the future of Olympic boxing—and the broader landscape of women’s sports—remains uncertain.
(Sources: Agence France-Presse; Javier Carro, Inside the Games; IBA)
