Olympics chief Thomas Bach to step down after boxing gender row engulfs Paris Games
Thomas Bach, who has been IOC president since 2013, says he will not seek a third term in office.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has announced he intends to resign after his second term concludes next year.
The update regarding the 70-year-old's future, in which he has been in the role since 2013, came during the IOC's 142nd Session.
In his speech, Bach shared: "After 12 years in the office of IOC president, our organisation 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 also stated that the new IOC president will be chosen in March 2025 during the IOC membership meeting in Greece and will start in the role by June.
Bach added: "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."
A former Olympic fencer, having won gold at the 1976 Games, Bach became an IOC member in 1991 and succeeded Jacques Rogge as president 11 years ago.
Bach's resignation comes after dismissing criticism relating to the participation of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in boxing at the Olympics.
Bach has reaffirmed his unwavering support for the two female Olympic gold medallists, stating on Friday: "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 confirmed that both Khelif and Lin had "complied" to the current entry regulations, although the organisation ceased gender verification testing at the start of the century due to scientific advice and concerns over its intrusive nature - potentially violating an athlete's human rights.
When questioned about revisiting the gender classification issue, Bach responded: "If someone is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it.
"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 women' just by looking at somebody or falling prey to a defamation campaign by a not credible organisation with highly political interests."
