TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — USA Boxing CEO Mike McAtee has claimed International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev targeted Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
He also questioned the disqualifications of the two pugilists from the 2023 International Women’s World Boxing Championships.
In an article published by The Washington Post, McAtee questioned why Lin and Khelif were disqualified rather than suspended from last year's World Championships. He also asked why the issue was not raised during the Olympic qualifiers but was only brought up when the two boxers got to the Olympics, per CNA.
McAtee told the Washington Post that he has known Lin and Khelif for years. He denied claims they had elevated testosterone levels that could give them a natural physical advantage over other female boxers.
McAtee pointed out that Khelif had lost nine of her career fights and only secured five knockout victories out of her 37 wins in seven years. He suggested that IBA's corruption dispute with IOC fueled the controversy.
The IOC had accused the IBA of corruption and mismanagement, per Reuters. McAtee said that given the IOC's ban on Russia and the IBA from the Olympics, the US Boxing Association had expected Kremlev to disrupt the Olympics.
Lin and Khelif were disqualified from last year's World Championships after failing a test where “specifics remain confidential,” per IBA. Kremlev told Russian state-owned news agency TASS the test revealed that both athletes had “XY chromosomes,” typically found in males, but failed to back up his claim.
McAtee suggested that Kremlev was behind the move to discredit the Olympics. He noted that Kremlev had made inflammatory posts on social media about the two boxers before the games.
The IBA did not respond to the Washington Post's inquiries.
The Washington Post reported the IOC voted 69-1 to sever ties with the IBA, which has been plagued by allegations of bribery and match-fixing, in June 2023. Boxing events during the Paris Olympics are being overseen by the IOC.
