The International Boxing Association (IBA) announced on Monday its decision to pursue legal action against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the participation of Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting at the Paris Olympic Games.
Both female boxers had been barred from competing in the IBA’s 2023 World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests. However, the IOC later cleared them to compete, and they went on to win gold medals in Paris.
Following its expulsion from the Olympic movement due to financial and ethical concerns, the IBA had no role in organizing boxing at the Games, which was overseen by the IOC.
In a statement, the IBA linked its legal action to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order seeking to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. The organization confirmed it is filing an official complaint with the Attorney General of Switzerland, as well as similar complaints in France and the United States.
IBA President Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman with Kremlin ties, claimed Trump’s order supports the association’s stance on protecting women’s sports.
However, neither Imane Khelif nor Lin Yu-ting are transgender women. Both were born female and are officially registered as such on their passports.
