The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing legal challenges for allowing Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan to compete in Paris 2024, where both athletes secured gold medals. This comes after both competitors had previously been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), led by Russian officials who administered the disputed 2023 tests, has initiated legal proceedings against the IOC. Drawing parallels with President Trump’s recent executive order prohibiting transgender women from participating in female sports in the USA, the IBA is submitting complaints to attorney generals in Switzerland, France, and the United States regarding the IOC’s decision to allow these athletes to participate.
According to the IBA, Swiss law states that “any action or inaction that poses a safety risk to competition participants warrants investigation and may serve as grounds for criminal prosecution.” The organization has also extended financial support to any Paris 2024 competitors who wish to pursue legal action.
IBA president Umar Kremlev stated, “President Trump’s order to ban transgender athletes from women’s sport validates IBA’s efforts to protect the integrity of female sports. Our actions aim to ensure gender equality in boxing.” He added, “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.”
Kremlev personally commented on IOC leadership, saying, “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.”
The controversy deepens given that the IOC had stripped the IBA of its status as the sport’s world governing body in 2023, citing concerns over ethics and finances. The IOC, which subsequently managed the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics, permitted Khelif and Yu-ting to compete, stating that the IBA had not provided evidence of their failed gender eligibility tests.
