Olympics president to step down after refusing to back down over Imane Khelif gender row

Thomas Bach, the head honcho of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has dropped a bombshell by declaring he won't be throwing his hat in the ring for re-election after his stint ends next year.

Bach, who's been at the helm since 2013, spilled the beans about his exit strategy at the IOC's 142nd grand gathering. Bach laid it on the line, saying: "After 12 years in the office of IOC president, our organization is best served with a change in leadership. I am not the best captain. New times are calling for new leaders . Change or be changed."

He's got his eyes on the future too , pointing out that the next top dog of the IOC will get picked in March 2025, during the committee's shindig in Greece, and will grab the reins in June.

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Bach, keen on keeping things shipshape, hammered home: "In order to safeguard the credibility of the IOC we all, and in particular I as your president, have to respect the highest standards of good governance we have set for ourselves. I will be at your disposal for our beloved Olympic movement."

Before climbing the IOC ladder in 1991 and taking over from Jacques Rogge a decade ago, Bach was a fencing ace, bagging Olympic gold in '76. As for who'll step into his shoes, there's no electioneering just yet .

The news comes hot on the heels of Bach batting away flak over fairness and safety in the Olympic boxing ring , especially when it comes to champs like Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting.

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Just last Friday, Bach stood solid as a rock in support of the two women who clinched Olympic gold . He stated: "This is not a question of inclusion, this has never played a role in all this, this is a question of justice: women must be allowed to take part in women's competitions. And the two are women.

" It is not as easy (as those) in this cultural war may want to portray it , that the XX or XY is the clear distinction between men and women. This is scientifically not true anymore. Therefore these two are women and they have the right to participate in the women's competition. This has nothing to do with inclusion in any way ."

The IOC stopped gender verification tests following scientific advice and concerns about rights , but Bach highlighted that both athletes under scrutiny, Khelif and Lin, had complied with the necessary requirements for entry.

Regarding revisiting gender categories within the IOC, Bach said: "If someone is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women , we are the first ones to do it.

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"We do not like this uncertainty, we do not like it for the overall situation, we would be more than pleased to look into it. But what is not possible is that somebody saying 'this is not a woman' by merely looking at someone or succumbing to a smear campaign by an untrustworthy group with intense political motives."

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