In a gripping turn of events at the Paris Olympics, the decision to let two boxers who previously failed gender tests compete has sparked significant controversy.
The drama reached a peak when Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her match against Algeria’s Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the bout, visibly distressed and in tears.
On the outskirts of Paris, the scene was charged with tension as Carini, clearly shaken, decided to forfeit her fight.
Khelif, who had been disqualified from last year’s World Championships for being deemed biologically male, faced criticism and scrutiny once again.
Carini, 25, was hit twice, suffered a suspected broken nose, and barely managed to land any punches.
She told her corner, “It’s not fair,” before sinking to her knees in frustration, slapping the canvas, and refusing to shake Khelif’s hand.
After the match, Carini explained her withdrawal by expressing fears for her safety.
This incident has drawn sharp criticism from a UN women’s welfare official and even Italy’s Prime Minister, who condemned the situation.
In response to the backlash, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended their decision, labeling the criticisms as ‘discrimination.’
According to the IOC, Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, who is set to compete today, were victims of an ‘arbitrary decision by the IBA.’
The IBA, the boxing governing body responsible for the World Championships, had its status revoked by the IOC due to governance and corruption issues, which led to the IOC taking over boxing’s oversight for the Games.
Some argue that the IOC’s more lenient eligibility rules allowed Khelif and Yu-Ting to compete in Paris, but the IOC rejected these claims.
They insisted that the athletes were disqualified without proper procedure, maintaining that their participation adheres to the IOC’s established rules, which are based on passport details for gender and age.
Controversy Surrounding Khelif and Yu-Ting
The IOC’s statement highlighted that both Khelif and Yu-Ting had been competing in international women’s boxing events for years, refuting claims that their participation is unwarranted.
The IOC also criticized ‘misleading information’ and ‘aggression’ against the athletes, calling it a violation of good governance.
They stressed that rule changes should not occur mid-competition and must be based on scientific evidence.
In the bout itself, Carini was struck twice by Khelif in the first round, causing her chin strap to come off.
She briefly retreated to her corner but returned to the ring only to abandon the fight shortly after, leading to Khelif’s victory.
Carini, who had expressed confidence in adapting to Olympic rules before the fight, was seen crying in the ring after the abrupt end.
She later revealed that she had to withdraw to “safeguard my life,” citing intense pain and a sense of being overwhelmed.
The Backdrop: Previous Disqualifications and DSD
The controversy surrounding Khelif’s participation stems from her disqualification last year from the Women’s World Boxing Championships due to elevated testosterone levels.
The Algerian Olympic Committee labeled the disqualification as part of a ‘conspiracy’ to prevent them from winning, attributing high testosterone to ‘medical reasons.’
Lin Yu-Ting faced similar disqualification issues, with both athletes allegedly impacted by a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), a medical condition where genitalia doesn’t align with chromosomes.
The IBA stated that neither athlete underwent testosterone tests but were evaluated through other recognized tests at previous championships, which indicated they had competitive advantages over other female competitors.
The Boxing Unit approved their participation under the less stringent rules from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, though both athletes were eliminated in the early rounds of their events.