Paris : Algerian controversial Women’s boxer Imane Khelif sparked controversy over gender fraud issue after her Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew after fighting 46 seconds against her in Women’s Boxing.
Khelif has remained a controversial figure in women’s boxing circuit over last few years, especially after when she got disqualified after failing gender eligibility Test in World Boxing Championship 2023. Her surprise inclusion in the Paris Olympics 2024 caused huge uproar among netizens and critics especially after today’s incident.
What happened in the Match?
In today’s match against Carini, the Italian withdrew after 46 seconds following Khelif’s few hard punches on her. The punches even seen too heavy to even shake & make her headgear loose . She fell on knees crying when judge announced Khelif as the winner. Such surprising sights are rare in Boxing arena, especially in Women’s cadre.
What Carini said regarding the Match?
In an interview after her exit, Carini stated with her teary-eyes and bloodstain on her trunks that she had to give up due to immense pain in her nose.
“I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match,” the Italian athlete stated.
Stressing that she has no authority to determine Khelif’s eligibility to compete in the Olympics, Carini said she had no issues fighting her, adding that “I just did my job as a boxer.”
She admitted that she is “heartbroken”, but added, “My father taught me to be a warrior. I have always stepped into the ring with honor and I have always (served) my country with loyalty. And this time I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t fight anymore, and so I ended the match.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also raised concerns regarding Khelif fighting against Carini, before match, remarking Khelif as “genetically male” characteristics category, as per 2021 category Boxing Women’s rules. However, IOA allowed her to participate despite controversial gender eligibility background.
Imane Khelif’s controversial Gender Eligibility career –
Khelif , a renowned boxer earned a silver medal at the 2022 world championship of the IBA. The same organisation banned her from 2023 year’s women’s world boxing championship in New Delhi, India, due to alleged excessive testosterone levels.
She was surprisingly banned a few hours ahead of her scheduled gold medal battle against Yang Liu of China. However, Yang Liu’s bronze medal was also taken away after she failed to meet IBA’s eligibility test, which prevents athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in the women’s category.
The disqualification, in Khelif’s opinion, was a plot to stop an Algerian boxer from winning.
According to the IOC, Khelif was disqualified because of high testosterone levels.
Despite Algerian Boxing Federation denying all such claims and allegations, netizens, critics lashed out at Khelif, saying her as “biological male“. The procedure to allow her in Women’s Boxing has raised questions and fingers over Paris Olympics and IOA.
