The head of the International Boxing Association launched a furious rant insisting the two female fighters at the heart of the Olympics gender row are men.
In a chaotic press conference, hastily organised in Paris, IBA president Umar Kremlev and CEO Chris Roberts took aim at both Imane Khelif and Lin-Yu ting and said they would "have to prove they were born women".
Both Khelif and Yu-ting were disqualified from the IBA-sanctioned World Championships in Delhi last year after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test. However, they were able to compete in the Olympics, with the Russian-led IBA stripped of its status as amateur boxing's governing body.
Khelif and Yu-ting are both guaranteed at least a bronze, but in an astonishing address Kremlev backed their belief that the two should not be allowed to compete.
“The tests show they were men. We don’t verify what they have between their legs," he said after arriving almost an hour late to the briefing. "We don’t know if they were born like that, or if some changes were made. The second tests confirmed the first tests. If people have doubts, refer to them. They can make their own tests.”
There was confusion however, with Kremlev discussing raised testosterone levels, while Roberts referenced a chromosome test.
"We got the test results that they allowed us to make and these test results show they have high levels of testosterone, like men," Kremlev said.
Roberts then explained: "The results of the chromosome tests demonstrated both boxers were ineligible."
Roberts then criticised the IOC for their process, adding: “They have not done anything with it because they rely on own criteria – which is basically the passport."
The IBA insist they had sent the findings to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), who subsequently explained they do not oversee gender tests.
During the address which lasted 100 minutes, Khelif's Algerian team-mate Roumaysa Boualam fiercely backed her compatriot and friend. “What is happening is disgusting. I’m here to support my friend, I am here for the truth and to say (what is being said about Khelif) is not correct and not true.
“Tomorrow, she will fight and we have to support her and wish her to win gold. We are so happy in Algeria, we support her and all the country know what she’s been through.
“I can’t speak for her but she will box and she will fight and this isn’t fair, what’s happened, for any athlete. All the athletes have to support her and feel what she feels right now. All the world is against us, it’s not correct.”
Khelif's rapid first-round victory over Italian Angela Carini kicked off the controversy, and she released a passionate statement ahead of her fight with Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng.
She said: "I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.
"I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren't affected deeply. They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response."
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