The International Olympic Committee has affirmed their decision to permit two boxers previously rejected for women’s boxing competition due to “gender eligibility.”
Every individual has the right to participate in sports without facing discrimination.
All athletes taking part in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 adhere to the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, along with all relevant medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) (please refer to all applicable rules here). The gender and age of athletes are determined based on their passport, as in previous Olympic boxing competitions.
These regulations were also enforced during the qualification phase, encompassing the boxing competitions of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games, and Pacific Games, as well as the ad hoc 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar (SEN) and two world qualifying tournaments in Busto Arsizio (ITA) and Bangkok (THA) in 2024. These events involved 1,471 different boxers from 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Boxing Refugee Team, and Individual Neutral Athletes, with over 2,000 qualification bouts taking place.
The PBU utilized the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a foundation to develop its regulations for Paris 2024, aiming to minimize disruption to athletes’ preparations and ensure consistency across Olympic Games. These Tokyo 2020 rules were established post-Rio 2016, predating the suspension of the boxing International Federation by the IOC in 2019 and its subsequent derecognition in 2023.
There have been reports containing misleading information regarding two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These athletes have competed in international boxing events within the women’s category for many years, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
These two athletes fell victim to an abrupt and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were disqualified without proper due process.
According to minutes from the IBA available on their website, the decision was initially made solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO, with the IBA Board later ratifying it and subsequently requesting the establishment of a proper procedure for similar cases in the future, to be included in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also indicated the need for the IBA to “establish a clear procedure on gender testing.”
The current mistreatment of these two athletes is solely based on this arbitrary decision, which lacked proper procedure – particularly given their extensive experience in high-level competition over many years.
This kind of approach contradicts principles of good governance.
Eligibility rules should not be altered during ongoing competition, and any rule changes must go through appropriate processes and be backed by scientific evidence.
The IOC is dedicated to upholding the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics, and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is disheartened by the mistreatment currently faced by the two athletes.
The IOC withdrew recognition of the IBA in 2023 following its suspension in 2019, a decision confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Refer to the IOC’s statement post the ruling.
The IOC has stressed the need for National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus on a new International Federation for boxing to remain on the sports programme of the Olympic Games LA28.
