Imane Khelif: "I will fight in the ring and in court’ against Boxing Association’s allegations

The International Boxing Association (IBA) announced its intention to file a legal complaint against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the participation of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 

- IBA challenges IOC’s decision -

Despite the IBA’s claims, the IOC deemed Khelif and Lin eligible to compete, leading to their participation in the games, where they both secured gold medals.

The IBA accused the IOC of ignoring its prior disqualification of the two athletes and allowing them to take part in the qualifiers and main competition, which it argues denied opportunities to other female competitors.

Read more: Imane Khelif wins gold at 2024 Olympics boxing finals

The IBA released a statement on February 10, reinforcing its stance on the issue:

“[The] IBA prides itself on being the sole International Federation committed to safeguarding the rights of the athletes worldwide and upholding the integrity of female sports. The executive order of USA President Donald Trump ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ proves that IBA stood firm, rightfully protecting female boxers from unfair competition.”

According to the IBA, it conducted thorough testing on gender eligibility in 2022 and 2023 and subsequently banned athletes deemed ineligible. The organization has now lodged a formal complaint with the Swiss Attorney General, Stefan Blattler, accusing the IOC of facilitating ineligible athletes' participation in the Olympic boxing tournament. Similar complaints are expected to be filed in France and the US.

- Legal battle fueled by Trump -

The IBA’s legal action is partially tied to US President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which asserts that male participation in women’s sports is unfair and undermines safety, fairness, and dignity. Trump’s directive states:

“It shall be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth [...] Many sport-specific governing bodies have no official position or requirements regarding trans-identifying athletes. Others allow men to compete in women’s categories if these men reduce the testosterone in their bodies below certain levels or provide documentation of ‘sincerely held’ gender identity. These policies are unfair to female athletes and do not protect female safety.”

Read more: Trump signs executive order to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports

While there is no indication that Khelif and Lin are transgender or intersex, the IBA continues to argue that their previous disqualifications should have been upheld by the IOC.

- IOC rejects IBA’s allegations -

The IOC dismissed the IBA’s claims, stating that its decision to allow Khelif and Lin to compete was based on established eligibility criteria.

In response to the legal complaint, an IOC spokesperson told The Independent:

“This IBA statement is just another example of [the] IBA’s campaign against the IOC, which is ongoing since their recognition was withdrawn by the IOC for issues related to governance, judging and refereeing – as well as questions around their finances.”

The IOC emphasized that both athletes have consistently competed in the women’s category throughout their careers, including at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where neither secured a medal. The organization also pointed out that Khelif and Lin’s performance statistics do not indicate an unusual advantage over other female boxers.

“Neither athlete had a perfect track record coming into Paris. Lin Yu-Ting, for example, lost her last bout before arriving in Paris. Neither athlete medalled at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where Imane Khelif was defeated in the quarter-finals by Unanimous Decision. Lin Yu-Ting lost her first fight in the round of 16.”

- Khelif speaks out -

In response to the controversy, Imane Khelif released a statement condemning the IBA’s actions:

“For eight years, I have fought for my dream—eight years of sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance to stand on the Olympic stage and represent my country with pride. I have earned my place, and I will continue to stand firm in the face of any challenge.

For two years, I have taken the high road while my name and image have been used, unauthorized, to further personal and political agendas through the spreading and dissemination of baseless lies and misinformation. But silence is no longer an option.

The International Boxing Association (IBA), an organization that I am no longer associated with and which is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee, has again made baseless accusations that are false and offensive, using them to further their agenda. This is a matter that concerns not just me but the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport.

I have seen adversity before. I lost in my first Olympic appearance. I lost in the amateur leagues. I have been knocked down more times than I can count. But I have never stayed down. I have fought through every setback, every false accusation, every attempt to erase me. And I have won. Each obstacle has only strengthened my resolve. I will continue to compete with honor and integrity.

My team is carefully reviewing the situation and will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld. Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable, and we will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that justice prevails.

I am not going anywhere. I will fight in the ring, I will fight in courts, and I will fight in the public eye until the truth is undeniable.

To my supporters, thank you for standing by me. I remain focused, determined, and ready to continue representing my country and my sport at the highest level.”

- IBA’s call for accountability -

IBA President Umar Kremlev has doubled down on the organization’s demand for accountability from the IOC, specifically targeting IOC President Thomas Bach. Kremlev stated:

“[The] IBA will provide free-of-charge comprehensive legal support to our boxers in these lawsuits, as this is a clear violation of human rights, an outrage towards the female boxers, and simply a crime that should be punished accordingly. In my personal opinion, [IOC President] Thomas Bach should take the full responsibility for this, as he was in charge when it happened, and he needs to compensate the damages caused, if the court or any other instance rules this.”