Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's double world champion Lin Yu-ting are women who have every right to compete at the Paris Olympics despite an ongoing gender row that has overshadowed their competitions, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Saturday (August 3).

The pair were cleared to compete in Paris despite being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules that prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes competing in women's events.

The IOC last year stripped the IBA of its status as boxing's governing body over governance issues and took charge of the Paris 2024 boxing competition.

READ: Explaining the Olympic boxing gender scandal

READ: Gender row explodes at Paris Olympics after boxer's quickfire win

The IOC has said the IBA decision to disqualify them last year was arbitrary and the main cause for the furore that has seen people such as British author J. K. Rowling and billionaire Elon Musk voice their opposition to them competing in the Games.

Khelif pummelled Angela Carini in the round of 16 of their welterweight bout on Thursday (August 1) before the Italian stopped after 46 seconds, with the Algerian's dominant performance further fanning the debate, and the IBA on Friday (August 2) promising to pay the defeated athlete $50,000 in prize money.

Bach said the IBA's position was part of what he said was a defamation campaign. The IBA did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

IBA President Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman, has repeatedly posted inflammatory comments on social media against both Bach and the IOC for the decision to allow the pair to compete at the Games.

Bach said the IOC wanted to keep boxing in the Olympics given the social role it plays, especially for underprivileged parts of society but a new global body had to be created.

(Cecile Mantovani, Stefan Haskins)