Algerian and Chinese Taipei Olympic Committees threaten legal action if IOC reveals tests. RDP / INSIDE THE GAMES

The controversy surrounding boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting continues with news emerging that the Olympic Committees of Algeria and Chinese Taipei have threatened legal action against the International Boxing Association if it discloses the test results on which their disqualification was based.

In the Paris 2024 gender row's newest chapter, it has now emerged that both NOCs and Sports Committees sent letters warning not reveal said information, claiming, among other things, that it would be a violation of the protection of personal data.

In most cases, men have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes. Lin and Khelif fought at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but there was no controversy then and neither won a medal.

Both were disqualified from last year's World Championships, organised by the IBA, after failing their gender eligibility test but were allowed to compete in Paris because the IOC had withdrawn its organisational authority from the IBA and was running the event under its own rules and organisation.

On Sunday, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, through its legal counsel, sent an email and a registered letter with return receipt formally demanding an immediate cessation of conduct after learning that the IBA might organise an international press conference to reveal Ms Lin's personal examination results and information.

Chris Roberts, Ioannis Filippatos and Gabriele Martelli with Umar Kremlev. RDP / ITG
Chris Roberts, Ioannis Filippatos and Gabriele Martelli with Umar Kremlev. RDP / ITG

"We remind you that these actions are illegal and violate personal data protection regulations, which may cause loss and damage to our client's and Ms LIN's rights and reputation."

Meanwhile, on Monday 5 August, just before the IBA's press conference in Paris, the lawyer for the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee sent a letter to the IBA's Secretary General, Chris Roberts.

In it, the Algerian committee accused the IBA of "serious irregularities" in the disqualification of KHELIF in New Delhi, which it considered unjust. 


The Algerian committee also accused the IBA of having "an apparently contradictory approach to sporting values" and stated that the press conference was "intended to cause serious damage to the interests and rights of athletes, particularly Mrs KHELIF, by revealing the alleged 'reasons' - necessarily medical - for her disqualification".

It also recalled that any disclosure of confidential information, particularly of a medical nature, would constitute a serious violation of Ms Imane Khelif's privacy and could lead to formal legal action "to stop your disinformation campaign, which is seriously damaging to the Algerian athlete, especially in the current context of the Olympic competitions, and to obtain compensation for the damage suffered".