Topline
The fight over women’s sports—and who can compete in them—erupted anew online Thursday after Italian boxer Angela Carini abruptly withdrew from her Olympic match against Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who was previously disqualified from last year’s World Boxing Championships after the International Boxing Association said she failed a gender eligibility test.
Carini faced off against Imane Khelif in the women’s boxing 66kg preliminary round. (Photo by … [+]
Key Facts
Carini withdrew from the fight after being punched in the nose, telling reporters she had never felt a punch like one of the strikes she sustained from Khelif.
Khelif was permitted to participate in this year’s Olympics after being previously prohibited from the 2023 International Boxing Association’s World Boxing Championships.
Khelif was disqualified from the championships after failing to meet eligibility requirements for the women’s competition, the IBA said in a statement, noting she was not subject to a testosterone exam and was instead put through a separate test that found she had competitive advantages over other women athletes.
The IBA, which is not recognized by the international Olympic Committee, has said the specifics of the test are confidential—though IBA president Umar Kremlev alleged to Russian news agency TASS last year Khelif had XY chromosomes—a pair of chromosomes typically possessed by men.
The International Olympic Committee stood by Khelif’s inclusion, saying in a statement that did not explicitly name the boxer that “two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” likely referencing Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan.
Carini, who cried after the match, said she would not pass judgment on the matter of her opponent’s eligibility, according to the Associated Press, adding it is not up to her to decide whether Khelif should be fighting or not.
The match’s outcome and Khelif’s background provoked criticism against the Algerian boxer, including scrutiny from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said “athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions,” according to Sky News, noting the prohibition should be done not to discriminate against anyone, “but to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms.”
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What To Watch For
Khelif will face off in the next round against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, who told the Associated Press she does not care about the social media row regarding Khelif’s presence at the Olympics, adding, “If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
Crucial Quote
Algerian national team soccer player Ismaël Bennacer expressed support for Khelif in a tweet, saying she is “suffering a wave of unjustified hatred” and that her “presence at the Olympic Games is simply the result of her talent and hard work.”
Key Background
Women’s sports have become a battleground over gender identity issues, as some critics have argued participation in such sports should be limited to people whose biological sex is female at birth. The New York Times reported that intersex athletes, or those with some biologically male characteristics and some female, have also been a focal point of the debate. Khelif is legally a female and is identified as such on her passport, according to multiple outlets. Mark Adams, the International Olympic Committee’s chief spokesman, told the Times that Khelif is not a transgender athlete. Adams noted everyone competing in the Olympics’ women’s category has complied with competition eligibility rules. Khelif appealed and called her disqualification from the IBA’s World Boxing Championships last year a “big conspiracy,” according to NBC News. The IBA said its decision to disqualify Khelif was “extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.” Khelif later withdrew her appeal. The Algerian fighter has competed as a woman throughout her career and also participated in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, losing in the quarterfinals against Irish boxer Kellie Harrington in a unanimous decision.
Further Reading
Italian Boxer Quits Bout, Sparking Furor Over Gender at Olympics (New York Times)
Boxer previously barred from women’s events wins fight after opponent quits in 46 seconds (NBC News)
