New Delhi: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year amid a gender eligibility row, once again finds herself in the centre of another controversy after the International Boxing Association (IBA) filed a lawsuit against the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Earlier this week, the IBA stated that it would file criminal complaints against the IOC in the US, France and Switzerland for allowing Khelif and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting to compete in female competitions in the Paris Olympics despite the duo being the subject of a gender eligibility row last year. Both Khelif and Ting won gold medals in their respective events.
IBA’s decision to file legal cases against the IOC came after American President Donald Trump signed an order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s events. Citing the executive order from Trump, IBA said the IOC’s move allowing Khelif and Ting to compete in women’s events and win gold medals at the Paris Olympics “may serve as grounds for criminal prosecution”.
Imane Khelif responds
Khelif slammed the IBA, accusing the global boxing body of levelling ‘baseless and offensive’ allegations against her. The Algerian boxer said she has faced several hiccups in her career but has never stayed down.
“I have been knocked down more times than I can count. But I have never stayed down,” Khelif wrote in an Instagram post.
The Algerian boxer who won gold in women’s 66 kg (welterweight) boxing event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, vowed that she “will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld.”
“Those responsible of these actions must be held accountable, and we will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that justice prevails,” she added.
Khelif accused IBA of furthering their agenda by citing her case in their lawsuit against the IOC. It is worth noting that both Khelif and Ting were disqualified by IBA from taking part in the 2023 World Boxing Championships after failing gender eligibility tests before the tournament. The World Championships is run by the IBA.
“IOA 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,” Khelif said.
IOC’s stance on the matter
IOC has maintained that both boxers identify as women and were assigned female at birth. The IOC had last year clarified that both boxers complied with all the rules to take part in the Paris Olympics 2024 and that they had also competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where they failed to win a medal.
“The two female athletes mentioned by IBA are not transgender athletes,” the IOC reiterated on Monday after IBA filed legal cases against the Olympic body. Khelif, who was born and raised as a woman in Algeria, faced intense global scrutiny during the Paris Olympics last year after questions were raised over her gender.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has accused the International Boxing Association of levelling ‘baseless and offensive’ allegations against her while vowing to take legal action against the lawsuit filed by the global bxing body. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
