The International Boxing Association (IBA) has launched legal action against the International Olympic Committee over two boxers who won gold medals at Paris 2024 despite previously failing gender eligibility tests.
Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting secured Olympic victories last summer after being allowed to compete by the IOC.
Both athletes had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests administered by the IBA.
The Russian-led IBA is now pursuing legal challenges across multiple jurisdictions regarding the IOC's decision to permit their participation.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has launched legal action against the International Olympic Committee over two boxers who won gold medals at Paris 2024 despite previously failing gender eligibility tests
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The IBA is filing complaints to attorneys general in Switzerland, France and the United States regarding the IOC's actions in allowing the athletes to compete.
They claim that under Swiss law, any action that poses a safety risk to competition participants warrants investigation and could lead to criminal prosecution.
The legal challenge comes as the IBA cites recent developments in international sports policy, including a US executive order banning transgender women from female sports.
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Imane Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics back in the summer
PAThe IBA's legal action seeks to address what it views as violations affecting the integrity of women's boxing competition.
IBA President Umar Kremlev has offered comprehensive legal support to any Paris 2024 boxers wishing to pursue action.
"Our actions aim to ensure gender equality in boxing," said Kremlev. "IBA will provide free-of-charge comprehensive legal support to our boxers in these lawsuits."
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He described the situation as "a clear violation of human rights, an outrage towards the female boxers, and simply a crime that should be punished accordingly."
Kremlev also directed criticism at IOC leadership, stating: "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."
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The dispute emerges against a backdrop of strained relations between the two organisations, with the IOC having stripped the IBA of its status as boxing's world governing body in 2023.
The IOC's decision came amid concerns over the IBA's ethics and finances.
Lin Yu-ting has claimed the IBA's gender test was 'false' amid the controversy that surrounded the boxer's involvement at the Paris Olympics
REUTERSThis led to the IOC directly managing the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics, where they permitted Khelif and Yu-ting to participate.
The IOC defended their decision to allow the athletes to compete, stating that the IBA had not produced any evidence supporting their claims about the failed gender eligibility tests.
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