The controversy in recent days has centred on the participation of Algerian and Taiwanese boxers at the Paris 2024 Games, who have been embroiled in a gender row in the sport.

Both were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after a chromosome test found them ineligible, the IBA announced on Monday at Le Salon des Miroirs, near Paris' beautiful Grands Boulevards.

The furore surrounding the participation of Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting in Paris 2024 intensified after Italy's Angela Carini retired 46 seconds into the first round claiming that she'd never been punched with such force before.

The IBA then tried to explain to the international press that it had acted "to protect female boxers", without discrimination or any other motive, and that it was the IOC that was failing to protect female boxers.

Relations between the IOC and the IBA have not been good in recent years and have deteriorated further since IOC President Thomas Bach removed the organisation and qualification of Olympic boxing from the IBA.

In this context, a press conference began with personal speakers such as IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts, former President of the IBA Medical Commission, the President of the EUBC, Greek Ioannis Filippatos, and President of the IBA Coaches Commission, Italian Gabriele Martelli.

The President of the IBA, Russian Umar Kremlev, criticised the organisation of the Olympic Games, especially the Opening Ceremony. "As a Christian believer, the opening ceremony was an insult to every Christian and every Muslim. The spirituality of every person was affected, and it happened thanks to the NOCs because they accepted this programme".

"Bach is a sodomite," Kremlev said, with images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus on show in the background to emphasise his stance against the IOC and his displeasure at what was seen by the Christian and even Muslim world as a mockery of religious beliefs.

In a lengthy and at times confusing presentation, with journalists constantly interrupting to make their own points, Kremlev made strong statements against Bach.

"Today we are witnessing the death of women's boxing, the corruption of judges. All this is happening while Mr Bach is president (of the IOC)," Kremlev said via videoconference in his native language, which was poorly translated live into English and French.

Kremlev also claimed that tests had shown that both boxers had high levels of testosterone, although he gave no further details.

Beyond the technical aspects, which were poorly explained by Dr Filippatos, the Russian has always sought to differentiate himself from the IOC. "With my arrival, corruption and injustice in the IOC stopped, and people were democratically elected. The board members were elected. The constitution and the administration were reformed. Today, we are faced with the need to protect athletes".

"The situation that led us to analyse the athletes was not of our own volition, but at the request of many female athletes who were injured during their activities. Athletes and coaches complained that they were genetically stronger and turned to me," he added.

"As president, we have to protect women's sport. We are talking about gender equality. They had the right to represent themselves as athletes. We have to protect that. Under no circumstances should we allow women's boxing to be destroyed. Today not only is women's boxing being destroyed, but I believe that in the future they will also try to destroy women's sport" said Kremlev.

"This is happening because the IOC allows it, if the IBA did it, it would not be like this today," the IBA head argued, referring to the participation of the two boxers in the Olympics.

His accusations against the IOC were repetitive as if to emphasise a diametrically opposed stance and warn of what he sees as the consequences of the policies implemented by Bach and his allies. 

"Today they are destroying women's boxing. We cannot allow that to happen. I, as president, will defend all boxers in the world. Men and women. Because the IBA is the home of boxers. No matter where they are, be it at the Olympics, at the inauguration or anywhere else. We cannot allow it" he continued.

"We have to stop it. The IBA should bring peace. To ensure the defence of the boxers," Kremlev shouted in front of a hundred journalists from all over the world, many of whom had taken Algeria's side as if it were a matter of state. Algerian flags could be seen and there were even chants in favour of Algeria with the classic "one, two, three, Viva l'Algérie".

At one point during the two-hour conference, the Russian asked, "Why don't they like me?" to which he replied seconds later, "Because I am independent, democratic, honest and transparent. I stand for the defence of boxers, against corruption and injustice. That's why they fear me.

"I will not be silent, I will not play politics. There is no place for politics in sport, sport is more important. The IBA belongs to the countries, decisions are made there. I ask the entire sports community and all those who love sports to unite," Kremlev said.

Every time Kremlev spoke, it was practically a direct shot at Bach and his colleagues. "The heads of the Olympic Games are trying to do everything to destroy women's sports competitions. If the IOC were in charge, this would not have happened" he added.

Germany's Thomas Bach made his position clear over the weekend, saying: "We have two boxers who were born as women, grew up as women, have women's passports and have competed as women for many years, and that is a clear definition of a woman.

Kremlev also took advantage of the international attention to state his position on the IOC elections and the pressure they put on members. "Some of my colleagues in the International Federation are afraid to speak out".

"The IOC President should be elected by the countries, just like the Executive Board and the Board of Directors. The constitution must be changed so that the president is elected by the countries and not by the members. The Executive Board should be an independent organisation from the International Olympic Committee and should not be considered a department," said Kremlev, whose term at the IOC runs until 2026.

He also questioned what happens to the money earned by the athletes, which he said does not return to its sources. "It is thanks to the countries that the International Olympic Committee exists. And all the income of the International Olympic Committee should go to the athletes, the coaches and the national committee".