The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has declared the gender tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) on two female boxers at last year’s World Championships as illegitimate and lacking credibility. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams openly criticized the tests, stating that they are not legitimate. According to Adams, the tests themselves, the process of conducting them, and their ad hoc nature are all flawed and do not warrant a response.
The controversy intensified after Khelif’s dominant performance in the round-of-16 welterweight fight on Thursday against Angela Carini. Khelif’s barrage of punches led Carini to withdraw just 46 seconds into the match, sparking a social media frenzy. The IBA’s response, promising to pay Carini 50,000 dollars in prize money, further fueled the ongoing dispute with the IOC. Amid the escalating tensions, IOC President Thomas Bach accused the IBA of launching a defamation campaign against the Olympic body.
Both Khelif and Lin have now reached the semifinals in their respective weight categories in Paris.
