The Silence of the Cowardly IBA and Umar Kremlev is Deafening

People read the headlines, they don’t read the retraction.

In the often chaotic world of international sports, few scandals have matched the magnitude of the controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). The two newly minted, Olympic gold medalists found themselves in the eye of a transphobic and political hurricane that they had nothing to do with. What should have been a crowning moment of their lives at the 2024 Paris Olympics, became a poster child for all that is wrong with the world.

It began as a routine competition at the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, but spiraled into a far-reaching controversy that has exposed the cowardice and dishonesty of the IBA and its president, Umar Kremlev. In 2023, during the IBA World Championships, both Khelif and Lin were abruptly removed from competition and stripped of their medals after the IBA alleged they had failed gender-eligibility tests. These tests, according to the IBA, supposedly proved that the athletes were biologically male. The announcement by Kremlev was shocking and sent waves through the boxing community and beyond.

“Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women. According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition,” Kremlev declared at the time.

The IBA’s statement was nothing short of a public indictment, and the consequences were immediate and severe. Both athletes were not only disqualified but also subjected to intense harassment and bullying from the global social media community. The online attacks were brutal and relentless, fueled by the stigma and misinformation surrounding the topic of gender identity in sports.

However, as the dust began to settle, serious questions arose about the legitimacy of the IBA’s actions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had expelled the IBA from its membership and stripped them of recognition in 2023, conducted its investigation into the matter. The IOC cleared both Khelif and Lin to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, dismissing the IBA’s tests as “arbitrary” and illegitimate.

Christian Klaue, the IOC’s head of communications, did not mince words, describing the IBA’s conduct as part of a Russia-backed “disinformation campaign against the Olympic movement.” The IOC’s condemnation was a damning rebuke of Kremlev and the organization he leads.

Despite the severe implications of their accusations, the IBA has since gone radio silent. After the initial uproar, Kremlev and his organization promised to provide “detailed explanations” for their ruling. Yet, as weeks have passed, those explanations never came. The IBA has failed to produce the so-called tests that allegedly proved Khelif and Lin were not women, and they have consistently dodged inquiries about the validity of their claims.

Even more disturbingly, the IBA has refused to address the concerns raised by the Taiwan Boxing Association (TBA) Secretary-General, Peng Junming, who requested the IBA to disclose the identity of the Taiwanese official who supposedly requested the results of Lin’s test be kept confidential. The IBA’s stonewalling has only deepened the sense of mistrust and suspicion surrounding their actions.

Imane Khelif, an Olympic gold medalist and a national hero in Algeria, has taken matters into her own hands. In a bold move, she filed a criminal complaint against several high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, and Logan Paul, accusing them of spreading disinformation about her gender during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Khelif’s legal action highlights the severe personal and professional harm caused by the IBA’s reckless and unfounded accusations.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the boxing media and the broader public have largely failed to hold the IBA accountable with the same intensity that characterized the initial wave of accusations. The lack of follow-up on this scandal is perplexing, especially given the significant damage done to the reputations and careers of Khelif and Lin.

As former NFL star Michael Irvin famously said, “Keep the same intensity.” It’s a sentiment that should resonate within the boxing community and the sports world at large. The accusations against Khelif and Lin were made with ferocity and conviction, yet the demand for accountability from the IBA has been tepid at best.

The silence from Umar Kremlev and the IBA is more than just an embarrassment; it’s a disgrace. Their actions have not only tarnished the reputations of two innocent athletes but have also raised serious concerns about the governance and integrity of international boxing. The IBA’s refusal to provide transparency or accountability is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the athletes and the boxing community.

The IOC’s rejection of the IBA’s tests as illegitimate should have been a wake-up call. Instead, it has been met with continued obfuscation and evasion. The IBA’s conduct in this matter is not just cowardly; it’s indicative of a broader problem within the organization—an unwillingness to face the consequences of their actions and a disregard for the truth.

As the 2024 Paris Olympics move further into the rearview, the boxing world must demand answers. The athletes who dedicate their lives to this sport deserve better. Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting deserve justice. And Umar Kremlev and the IBA must be held accountable for their actions. The silence of the cowardly IBA and its president is deafening, but it cannot be allowed to drown out the calls for truth and justice.

The time for accountability is now.