A boxing match at the Paris Olympics on Thursday ended in swift and contentious fashion, reigniting debates about gender eligibility in sports.
Imane Khelif of Algeria, whose participation in women’s boxing events has recently come under scrutiny, secured a win against Angela Carini of Italy in a bout that lasted merely 46 seconds.
The Quick Bout and Its Aftermath
The match ended abruptly when Carini chose to quit after exchanging only a handful of punches with Khelif. In a display of visible distress, Carini refused to shake her opponent’s hand and collapsed to the floor in tears.
This dramatic scene unfolded against the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding Khelif’s eligibility to compete in women’s events.
The Gender Eligibility Controversy
Khelif’s participation in the Olympics has drawn increased attention due to resurfaced reports from the previous year. At the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, both Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan allegedly failed to meet gender eligibility criteria.
Sports officials claimed that unspecified tests revealed the presence of male chromosomes in both boxers.
It’s important to note that the 25-year-old Khelif has consistently competed as a woman throughout her career, including during the Tokyo Olympics.
There is no evidence to suggest that she identifies as transgender or intersex, the latter being a term for individuals born with sex characteristics that don’t conform strictly to typical male or female classifications.
Reactions and Statements
Carini, explaining her decision to end the fight, stated:
“I felt a severe pain in my nose.” She added, “I am not here to judge or pass judgment. If an athlete is this way, and in that sense it’s not right or it is right, it’s not up to me to decide.”
However, others were more vocal in their opinions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented:
“We have to pay attention, in an attempt to not discriminate, that we’re actually discriminating against women. In these things what counts is your dedication, your head and character, but it also counts having a parity of arms.”
The incident also drew reactions from American politicians. Former President Donald Trump emphatically stated on his social media platform, Truth Social: “I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS!”
Celebrity Responses
The match provoked responses from public figures known for their controversial stances on transgender issues. “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling made multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), referring to Khelif as “male” and describing the match as a “brutal injustice.”
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who recently faced criticism for comments about his estranged trans daughter, also weighed in on the platform he owns.
Responding to a post suggesting Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for such situations, Musk wrote: “True or let her deny it.”
