Boxing star calls for two fighters to be banned from the sport - 'Trying to be too woke'

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Ebanie Bridges calls for two boxers to be banned

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 12/02/2025

- 13:56

Ebanie Bridges has aired her thoughts on Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting

Former IBF bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges has backed calls to ban two Olympic gold medallists who failed gender eligibility tests.

Bridges described the situation as 'tricky' but supported excluding both fighters from women's boxing.


She criticised the IOC's approach, stating: "I think the IOC is trying to be too woke or whatever and [there] needs to be clear lines, or let women take steroids [to compete against these athletes]."

The former champion also welcomed Donald Trump's recent executive order on transgender athletes, saying she was "so happy Trump has put his foot down about this to keep integrity and save women's sport."

Boxing Ebanie Bridges

Former IBF bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges has backed calls to ban two Olympic gold medallists who failed gender eligibility tests

GETTY

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has launched legal action against the International Olympic Committee over two controversial gold medallists from last summer's Olympics.

Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting both claimed Olympic titles despite being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests.

The Russian-led IBA is now pursuing criminal complaints against the IOC over their participation.

This move comes as President Trump recently signed an executive order banning transgender women from female sports in the USA.

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Imane Khelif wins Olympic boxing gold medal amid controversial gender row

Imane Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics back in the summer

REUTERS

The IBA is filing complaints to attorney generals in Switzerland, France and the USA regarding the IOC's actions in allowing the ineligible athletes to compete.

Under Swiss law, the IBA claims any action that poses a safety risk to competition participants warrants investigation and could lead to criminal prosecution.

The legal challenge aligns with Trump's recent announcement that he would prevent transgender athletes from participating in women's sports at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The IBA's president Umar Kremlev said Trump's order "validates IBA's efforts to protect the integrity of female sports."

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The IBA has offered to provide free legal support to any Paris 2024 boxers wishing to pursue legal action.

IBA president Umar Kremlev issued strong criticism of the IOC, stating: "Our actions aim to ensure gender equality in boxing."

"IBA will provide free-of-charge comprehensive legal support to our boxers in these lawsuits, as this is a clear violation of human rights," Kremlev said.

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He personally targeted IOC president Thomas Bach, saying: "In my personal opinion, Thomas Bach should take the full responsibility for this, as he was in charge when it happened, and he needs to compensate the damages caused."

The IOC stripped the IBA of its status as boxing's world governing body in 2023, citing concerns over ethics and finances.

This meant the Olympic boxing tournament last summer was run directly by the IOC, rather than the IBA.

Lin Yu-TingLin Yu-Ting followed in the footsteps of Imane Khelif by also winning gold at the Paris OlympicsPA

The IOC allowed both Khelif and Yu-ting to compete in Paris despite their previous disqualifications.

The Olympic body claimed the IBA had not produced any evidence of the failed gender eligibility tests from the 2023 World Championships.

Both boxers insist they were born female and have bristled at suggestions otherwise.

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