Algerian boxer Imane Khelif didn’t undergo tests for testosterone levels, International Boxing Association clarified on Wednesday (31.07.2024). Neither has Taiwanese Lin Yu Ting, disqualified from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi 2023 on the same allegations.

According to a statement, test was proposed “to ratify the decision made by the IBA Secretary General and CEO [George Yerolimpos*] to disqualify both athletes and reinstate the athlete from Thailand, Janjaem Suwannapheng,” defeated by Khelif then. They both will have an Olympic match in the semifinals on August 6th.

Neither the statement nor the minute specify which of the IBA’s eligibility criteria weren’t met by either athletes. Nor what kind of tests led to that conclusion.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee showed support to the athletes. “There was never any doubt about them being a woman”, the IOC president Thomas Bach said.

According to FactCheck.kz review, claims about a testosterone test didn’t come from IBA but maybe from the Kremlin originally.

IBA is to award Angela Carini

Despite the fact that she voluntarily left the ring 46 seconds into the match, Angela Carini will receive an “Olympic champion prize money.” The IBA’s statement details the prize money ranged from $10,000 to $50,000 USD, but did not specify how much she would receive.

“I couldn’t look at her tears,” Umar Kremlev, IBA’s president said in the statement, launched on August 2nd. “I’m not indifferent to such situations, and I can assure that we will protect each boxer.”

Without details, statement informs that Uzbek Sitora Turdibekova will get IBA’s support too after unanimously lost to Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan in round of 16.

Same day, Carini apologized to Khelif assuring she wasn’t making a statement by refusing to shake her hand after choosing to quit. “It was not intentional, in fact I apologize to her and to everyone,” she said.

IBA continues to clash with IOC

The International Boxing Association is still questioning the IOC, assuring its decisions are not just politics but personal. Both organizations are involved in a loud controversy after the International Olympic Committee decided to ban IBA as the boxing ruling organization.

In April 2023, IBA appealed to the Swiss Federal Court against the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS-CAS) award to uphold the IOC’s decision. Kremlev even took advantage of the statement on Carini’s award to criticize the IOC: «I don’t understand why they are killing women’s boxing.»•

*Editor’s note: The text previously mistakenly showed Chris Roberts as the IBA CEO. He is the current one, but George Yerolimpos was the Secretary General and CEO when athletes were asked to take the tests. We sincerely apologize for the confusion.