Trump prompts boxing chiefs to sue Olympics over transgender athletes
The International Boxing Association has revealed plans to initiate legal proceedings against the International Olympic Committee over the inclusion of transgender athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The IBA cited former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which bans transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, as supporting evidence for their position.
IBA said Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order reinforces their stance on safeguarding female boxers from “unfair competition.”
The IBA plans to challenge the IOC’s decision to allow Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete and win gold medals at the Olympics.
“President Trump’s order to ban transgender athletes from women’s sport validates IBA’s efforts to protect the integrity of female sports,” said IBA President Umar Kremlev.
“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.”
This announcement comes as controversy brews in Nigerian boxing. Interim Nigeria Boxing Federation president Azania Omo-Agege has called on the National Assembly to probe the federation’s recent affiliation with World Boxing, citing concerns over its policies on transgender athletes.
“Let them come and explain to Nigerians how they will take the Nigeria Boxing Federation to a boxing association that supports transgender athletes which is against our constitution without properly consulting with board members and stakeholders,” Omo-Agege stated.
The IBA disclosed plans to lodge formal complaints with attorneys general in Switzerland, France, and the United States, challenging the IOC’s decision to allow what they described as “ineligible athletes” to participate in Paris.
Kremlev encouraged affected athletes to take legal action against IOC President Thomas Bach and his team, offering legal support to any boxer seeking to pursue the matter.
“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 full responsibility for this,” Kremlev added.
Additionally, the IBA announced that it will introduce stricter gender eligibility verification protocols for the upcoming Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš, reaffirming its dedication to ensuring a fair and equitable environment for female athletes.
Omo-Agege has also called on former NBF president Kenneth Minimah to appear before lawmakers and clarify the federation’s affiliation with World Boxing, revealing that proper consultations with stakeholders were not carried out.
