‘He Should Kneel and Apologise’ - IBA Boss Calls for Return of Olympics Gold from Algerian Boxer After Gender Row

The International Boxing Association president wants Algerian boxer Imane Khelif stripped of her Olympics gold after competing as a woman despite past tests suggesting otherwise.

International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev has called for Imane Khelif to be stripped of her Olympic gold medal after revealing details of "conclusive and repeated" gender tests that reportedly showed she did not meet the eligibility criteria to compete in the women's division.

In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Kremlev urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to apologise to the other athletes and held former IOC president Thomas Bach personally responsible, labeling him a "rat" who "put politics on the podium instead of athletes."

“Thomas Bach is leaving his position and running away like a rat. I call him that because, in my view, he's stolen the cheese from the office. By that, I mean the IOC is robbing the athletes. Everything the IOC earns should go to the athletes, they're the ones who make sport what it is, but they receive nothing,” he said.

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Khelif won gold in the women's 63kg boxing division at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, Kremlev revealed that she had been disqualified from IBA-sanctioned events after failing two gender tests, one in 2022 and another in 2023.

These tests, conducted by Sistem Tip Laboratory in Turkey and Dr Lal PathLabs in India, respectively, reportedly revealed XY chromosomes.

Despite these findings being communicated to the IOC, Khelif was permitted to compete in the Olympics under IOC eligibility rules, which prioritize legal documentation over biological testing.

Kremlev Lifts Lid on Boxer’s Gender Tests

Kremlev detailed the circumstances surrounding the tests. The first occurred at the 2022 IBA Women's World Championships in Istanbul after coaches raised concerns.

A group of athletes, including Khelif, were tested. A second test was conducted before the 2023 IBA World Championships in New Delhi to confirm the initial findings. Both Khelif and another boxer, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, were disqualified after the results. Neither appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Kremlev criticised the IOC for prioritising political interests over sporting integrity and accused the organization of mismanaging funds.

He stated, "The IOC is not fighting for fairness in sport. The IOC is giving away medals based on their political interests." He demanded that Bach apologise and compensate the athletes affected by the situation.

The IBA boss also accused the IOC of deflecting criticism by blaming Russia for disinformation and expressed support for legislation in the United States banning transgender women from competing in women's sports, praising US President Donald Trump for signing the order. He advocated for mandatory gender testing before all sporting events to ensure fairness.

Kremlev's comments highlight the growing tension between the IBA and the IOC regarding gender eligibility in sports. While advocates for transgender and intersex athletes argue that such testing is discriminatory, Kremlev maintains it is essential for preserving fairness and safety in boxing.