At the Paris Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif sparked controversy by defeating Italian boxer Angela Carini with a knockout in just 46 seconds in the 66 kg women’s boxing event. Khelif was previously barred for failing a gender eligibility test.
The swift victory drew criticism from Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who claimed the match was unfair.
Harry Potter Author JK Rowling also criticised the decision, questioning the ethics of allowing someone with male genetic characteristics to compete against women.
Following her defeat, Carini was visibly troubled, collapsing and sobbing in the ring without shaking hands with Khelif.
Reflecting on her loss, Carini said, “I have a big pain in my nose and I said, ‘Stop’. It’s better to avoid keeping going. My nose started dripping (with blood) from the first hit.”
Prime Minister Meloni asserted on the need for fairness in sports, stating, “I think athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions. And not because you want to discriminate against someone, but to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms.” She argued that the match between Carini and Khelif was inherently unequal.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has permitted athletes, who failed gender eligibility tests at the World Boxing Championships to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last year, Khelif was disqualified shortly before her gold medal match at the women’s World Championships in Delhi due to high testosterone levels. Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, a double world champion, also lost her bronze medal at the same competition for failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.
Amateur Boxing President Umar Kremlev confirmed that DNA tests showed the two boxers had XY chromosomes, resulting in their exclusion.
Reem Alsalem, UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, supported Carini’s decision to prioritise her safety but criticised the exposure of female athletes to such situations. She described the incident as physical and psychological violence based on sex.
The World Championships were organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is not recognised by the IOC due to concerns over financial transparency. The IOC cited the lack of clarity about the prize money’s source, particularly its dependence on Gazprom, a state-owned company.
The boxing competition at the Paris Olympics is managed by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), a unit of the IOC’s Executive Board. IOC spokesman Mark Adams stated, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports, and it’s stated in there that they are female.”
