Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE updates: Day 10 – MASHAHER

As we flagged earlier, the International Boxing Association (IBA) is holding a press conference today in Paris, where officials of the organisation – which has been banned by the International Olympic Committee – are addressing the issue that has engulfed boxing over the last few days at these Games.

This is what Chris Roberts, the IBA secretary general and CEO, had to say:

“There were a number of concerns from boxers, coaches, medical staff and ringside doctors about these two boxers,” he said, referring to Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting.

Both women were disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships by the IBA after they failed gender eligibility tests. However, both boxers have been allowed to fight in Paris because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – which took over the running of the tournament from the IBA due to financial and ethical irregularities – has more relaxed rules around gender eligibility.

“The tests were taken in 2022 in Istanbul. They were blood tests were taken by a lab in Istanbul. The results were issued on the 24th May,” Roberts said.

“The tests were taken and the results that were brought out were inconsistent. There’s been a number of questions as to why there was a time gap (between the tests and the disqualifications of the boxers a year later).

“[The] reason is we wanted two tests. Both boxers entered the championship in 2023 and were asked to take a further blood test. It demonstrated the chromosomes that make both boxers ineligible.

“It was ratified by our board of directors to remove the boxers from the competition on the 26th March.”

The IOC has previously dismissed the credibility of the tests.

“We’re not able to disclose the results of any tests. But you can read between the lines,” Roberts said, adding that the Algerian and Chinese Taipei committees both contacted the IBA yesterday. He said the IBA was not able to release private medical information.