International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev has launched an attack on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing it of being "scared of the truth" over Imane Khelif.
The IBA held a chaotic news conference on Monday in an attempt to clarify the failed gender tests for boxers Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting at last year's boxing World Championships in India.
Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the competition after failing to meet the IBA's eligibility criteria. At the time, the Russian-led governing body gave unclear information as to how both fighters had failed the tests and what was involved in the testing procedure.
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The IBA said in a statement at the time that the pair had been disqualified "to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition" adding that they "did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test, whereby the specifics remain confidential".
"This test conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors," the body added.
IBA president Kremlev also told Russian news agency TASS at the time that tests had found that both Khelif and Lin had "XY chromosomes".
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Despite the purported results those tests, Khelif and Lin were both cleared to compete at the Olympics by the IOC. This was because boxing is no longer overseen by the IBA at the Games – with an ad-hoc body, the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), tasked with administering the sport on behalf of the IOC instead.
In July of last year, the IOC made the decision to strip the IBA of its status as the boxing's world governing body, amid concerns over its governance of the sport and alleged links to the Russian government.
The decision to clear Khelif and Lin to compete at the Olympics has prompted fierce debate, which intensified after Khelif's first opponent at the Games, Italy's Angela Carini, withdrew from their bout after just 46 seconds.
Earlier this week, IOC president Thomas Bach defended Khelif and Lin - who are now both guaranteed of a medal at Paris 2024 after reaching the semi-finals of their respective competitions - saying there was "never any doubt" they are women.
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On Monday, the IBA attempted to provide further information over the pair's failed tests at last year's World Championships.
The Daily Mail journalist Mike Keegan reports that IBA chief executive officer Chris Roberts stated that two blood tests were taken on Khelif and Lin, one in 2022 and one in 2023.
Roberts was quoted as saying these "demonstrated the chromosomes we refer to in competition rules that make both boxers ineligible" adding that "we [the IBA] are not in a position due to medical confidentiality to give you the test itself".
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Kremlev then launched an astonishing attack on the IOC via video call from Russia, accusing the organisation of being "scared of truth" in its defence of Khelif and Lin.
"They are scared of truth. We will make sure we protect our women," he said, as reported by The Telegraph.
"Women athletes who have been spoiled, we will donate them money. We would like for this money to go back to athletes. We will not allow the sponsors and all the spectators, all the people passionate about sports.
"I call upon the best judges, best investigators, best activists to defend women."
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Both Khelif and Lin previously competed at the delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Khelif lost to Ireland's Kellie Harrington in their quarter-final fight, while Lin also failed to win a medal.
They have performed better at the 2024 Games, with both through to the final four of their respective competitions – guaranteeing them at least a bronze medal as there is no third-place fight in boxing at the Games.
Khelif will take on Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng in the last four of the welterweight competition on Tuesday night, while Lin will face Turkey's Esra Yildiz in the semi-finals of the featherweight competition on Wednesday evening.
In her first sit down interview at the Games on Monday, Khelif said the hateful scrutiny she has faced over misconceptions about her gender "harms human dignity" and called for an end to bullying.
"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects," Khelif told SNTV.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."
Rory O'Callaghan