Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s Olympic bout in Paris sparked global debate this week when her Italian opponent withdrew just 46 seconds into their fight. The controversy over Khelif’s eligibility follows her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships due to high testosterone levels.
Khelif, who was disqualified last year for failing gender eligibility criteria, faced heavy criticism from various quarters, including female athletes and women’s rights advocates. Despite this, she was allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics, which has led to widespread backlash. Khelif’s father has defended his daughter, calling the attacks against her ‘immoral’ and ‘unfair’, claiming they are part of a conspiracy to prevent her from succeeding.
‘Immoral’, ‘Unfair’
“Imane is a little girl that has loved sports since she was six years old, she used to play football,” Amar Khelif said, urging her to prove her critics wrong and bring home a gold medal for Algeria. “These critics and rumours aim to destabilise Imane, they don’t want her to be the champion of the world. “I tell her to prove them wrong in the ring and I hope that she will honor Algeria and Arabic countries and win the gold medal,” the 25-year-old boxer’s father was quoted as saying by UK-based Daily Mail.
In Khelif’s defence, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that the Algerian fighter met the eligibility criteria set for the Paris Games, which follow guidelines established for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These guidelines permit athletes who have undergone male puberty to compete in women’s categories if they meet specific testosterone level requirements.
Devastating as expected. Imane Khelif a man, beats Angela Carini in 46 seconds in Olympic Boxing this morning, by provably breaking her nose. This is not only unfair but can be deadly. F**k trans athletes. #AngelaCarini #OlympicGamesParis2024 pic.twitter.com/NTiLyAd3bB— boxingMD (@BoxingMD1) August 1, 2024
The controversy intensified this week when Italy’s Angela Carini, visibly distressed, withdrew from the fight, citing pain from Khelif’s punches. Carini, who sustained a suspected broken nose, described the bout as “impossible to continue” due to the severity of her injuries. She later expressed that the decision to withdraw was made to “safeguard my life.”
Popular Critics
Critics, including prominent figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling, have condemned the inclusion of athletes with elevated testosterone levels in women’s sports, arguing it creates an unfair advantage. They claim that this discrepancy undermines the integrity and safety of women’s competitions.
High-profile supporters of Carini have called for increased scrutiny of such policies, while the IOC and International Boxing Association (IBA) have faced accusations of mishandling the situation. The IBA, previously responsible for boxing’s governance but stripped of its recognition by the IOC last year, had initially disqualified both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting from the World Championships due to similar issues.
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The IOC has responded by emphasising that the rules in place were designed to be consistent and fair, and that any changes to eligibility criteria cannot be made mid-competition. “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,” the IOC said in a statement. The debate also touches on medical conditions like Differences of Sexual Development (DSDs), which can involve atypical sex chromosomes and hormone levels. Both Khelif and Lin are reported to have DSDs, adding complexity to the discussion about fair competition.
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