Alizadeh qualified for Paris 2024 through the European Qualifiers but will now represent Bulgaria and not the EOR in the French capital. Aged 18, she became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal when she took bronze in the 57kg class at Rio.

In January 2020, she defected from her homeland and became a Refugee Athlete Scholarship holder a year later. She competed in her second Olympic Games for the Refugee Olympic Team, again at 57kg, but lost out in her bronze medal bout to Türkiye's Hatice Kübra İlgün. Had she won, she would have become the first refugee athlete to secure an Olympic medal.

After receiving Bulgarian citizenship, Alizadeh said, "I would like to thank massively the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its staff members for your unwavering commitment and support to me. Although I am leaving the Games, I will always feel the bond with my IOC family."

Olympic Refugee Foundation head Jojo Ferris said, "This is a great development for Kimia, and I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire millions of people around the world with her courage. She has etched her name into the history of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and we wish her all the very best for the future."

IOC President Thomas Bach will announce the Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024 during a special live-streamed event on 2 May. The IOC Executive Board will decide on the composition of the EOR, taking into account the sporting achievements of each athlete as well as ensuring a balanced representation in terms of sports, gender and regions.