IOC does not consider gender tests of female boxers conducted by IBA to be legitimate

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has received a letter from the International Boxing Association (IBA) with data regarding gender tests of female boxers participating in the 2024 Olympics, but does not consider these tests legitimate, said IOC communications director Mark Adams.

The IBA had previously sent a letter to the IOC with details of the athletes who had been suspended for failing to meet the eligibility criteria.

— These were illegitimate tests. There was a letter, I can confirm. But the tests, I repeat, were illegitimate. And I think this is an ugly situation, which only increases the pressure on the athletes from the media.

The method of testing, the idea behind these tests, all of that is not applicable. So I won’t go into that,” Adams said at a press conference.

In 2023, the International Boxing Association (IBA) suspended Iman Khelif (Algeria) and Lin Yuting (Taiwan) during the World Championships in India due to failure to meet the eligibility criteria. A gender test showed that the athletes had XY chromosomes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed them to compete in women’s competitions in 2024.

In the quarterfinal bout in the 66 kg category, Khelif defeated Hungary’s Luca Hamori with a score of 5–0. Thus, the Algerian guaranteed herself bronze at the 2024 Olympics.

The Olympic Games in Paris will end on August 11.