IBA stirs up more confusion, controversy in Paris press conference to clarify Imane Khelif situation

The International Boxing Association has provided more confusion than anything following their press conference on Monday, which was intended to clarify the situation surrounding Imane Khelif.

Since the boxer’s victory over Italy’s Angela Carini during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics last week, Khelif has faced scrutiny about her gender. Khelif’s been outspoken about the experience, which has caused an uproar.

Evidently, the IBA’s press conference didn’t put the story to rest, as German journalist Jonathan Crane called it “farcical” after hearing what was said. “It’s been a shambles. Any credibility concerning these failed gender tests is very quickly evaporating,” he noted.

For example, Umar Kremlev, President of the IBA, elected not to alleviate concerns with his comments, “We didn’t check what was between their legs,” he said, regarding the status of Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting, per Crane. “They have men’s levels of testosterone. We don’t know if there were born like men or some changes intervened [sic] at a later stage.”

Amid all the chaos, Kim Willsher of The Guardian tried to break down the press conference as a whole on social media afterwards, piecing it together. It went as follows, according to Willsher, check it out below:

“Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were among 4 boxers who underwent blood test carried out by a laboratory in Istanbul at a championship in May 2022 after questions from boxers, coaches and medics. Two boxers’ results were clear. Khelif and Yu-ting’s results were ‘inconsistent.’

A second blood test was carried out on Khelif and Yu-ting by another laboratory before another championship in March 2023. Based on the results of the second tests, Khelif and Yu-ting were told they were disqualified from the 2023 competition and had the chance to appeal.

Yu-ting did not appeal. Khelif appealed, an appeal Roberts said was part funded by the IBA. Khelif’s appeal was submitted to CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport) but was not taken further (by the athlete) and was dropped.

Chris Roberts, IBA Secretary General, said for privacy reasons he could not give details of the blood test results but people could ‘read between the lines.’ He said the IBA had been told by Algeria and Taiwan not to disclose any information on the two boxers.

Dr Ioannis Filippatos, president of the European Boxing Confederation and a medical doctor for 30 years, said the second blood test results from the laboratory showed they were ‘male…showed a male karyotype.’

Gabrielle Martelli, IBA World Coaches Chairman, said international coaches had raised concerns. He said it was not about discrimination but about the safety of boxers.

The IBA says the International Olympic Committee was given all the information on the blood tests in advance of the Olympic Games,” Willsher noted.

In addition to the information Willsher shared from the press conference, there was misguided talk about the Opening Ceremony from the IBA, and other controversial topics during the event.

Obviously, it went off the rails, but thanks to Kim Willsher and other reporters, we have some answers from the decision-makers. What’s next in the saga surrounding Imane Khelif and the IBA remains to be seen.