Olympics to be hit by legal action over Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting after Donald Trump’s ban on trans women in sport
THE International Olympic Committee is facing a lawsuit for allowing boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting to compete at the 2024 Olympics.
The pair were at the centre of a heated gender row that dominated the Paris Games.
Both competed at the Games 18 months after being disqualified from the Women’s World Championships for allegedly failing a gender eligibility test.
Tests administered by the International Boxing Association are said to have determined that Khelif and Yu-Ting have male XY chromosomes.
The IOC, however, permitted the pair to compete – much to the frustration of the IBA.
And in light of Donald Trump‘s executive order preventing transgender women from competing in female sports in the USA, the Russian-backed organisation has decided to take legal action against the IOC.
A snippet of a statement read: “In light of the gender eligibility issues surrounding boxers in 2022 and 2023, the IBA proactively conducted all necessary testing and subsequently banned individuals deemed ineligible from participating in women’s competitions.
“Despite notifying the IOC about the disqualification of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, the IOC disregarded this critical information, allowing both athletes to compete in the Qualifiers and ultimately at the 2024 Olympics, where they secured gold medals, denying opportunities to deserving female athletes.
“As a result, IBA is filing an official complaint with the Attorney General of Switzerland, Mr Stefan Blatter, regarding the IOC’s actions that facilitated the participation of these ineligible athletes in the 2024 Olympic boxing tournament in Paris.
“According to the Swiss law, any action or inaction that poses a safety risk to competition participants warrants investigation and may serve as grounds for criminal prosecution.
“In addition, similar complaints are to be filed with the Attorneys General of France and the USA.”
IBA chief Umar Kremlev said: “President Trump’s order to ban transgender athletes from women’s sport validates IBA’s efforts to protect the integrity of female sports.
“Our actions aim to ensure gender equality in boxing.
“We urge other International Federations to follow IBA’s example, as we are uniquely positioned to address this issue and advocate for our athletes’ rights.”
He added: “IBA will provide free-of-charge comprehensive legal support to our boxers in these lawsuits.
“As this is a clear violation of human rights, an outrage towards the female boxers, and simply a crime that should be punished accordingly.
“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, if the court or any other instance rules this.”
Khelif, who won Under-66kg gold, received a barrage of hate after forcing Italy‘s Angela Carini to quit a mere 46 seconds into their opening bout.
Multiple erroneous reports, most from social media, claimed she was a biological man.
Khelif has taken legal action against several prominent figures for alleged “aggravated cyber-harassment”, including Elon Musk and JK Rowling.
Reflecting on her ordeal, she told El Birard: “Immediately after there was a big uproar from big politicians around the world, athletes around the world.
“And even artists and stars, Elon Musk, Trump.. this thing….. that affected me.
“I am not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, hurt me a lot. I can’t describe to you the amount of fear I had.
“The scenario was very scary. Thank god, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will.
“Honestly, I don’t like to get into politics in sports, but they got into politics in sports.
“Sports and politics are two separate things.
“These politicians who are oppressing me, they don’t have the right to say that I’m a transgender.”