IBA Plans Criminal Complaints Against IOC in US, France, Switzerland

The International Boxing Association (IBA) is set to file criminal complaints against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the U.S., France, and Switzerland, claiming that the IOC's decision to allow women boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete and win gold medals in Paris last year constitutes grounds for prosecution. Citing former President Donald Trump's executive order on transgender athletes, the IBA argues that this decision poses a safety risk to competition participants under Swiss law. The IBA, which has been excluded from the Olympics, plans to file similar complaints in France and the USA, while offering legal support to boxers pursuing action against IOC officials. This legal battle underscores a longstanding conflict between the IBA, led by Umar Kremlev, and the IOC, headed by Thomas Bach, regarding the governance of boxing in the Olympics. The IOC maintains that Khelif and Lin complied with all eligibility rules, and both boxers had previously competed in the Tokyo Games without winning medals. The IBA has also disqualified Khelif and Lin from the 2023 world championships over eligibility concerns.