The start of the boxing tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics gathered tons of attention, but not in the way that was expected. Namely, the Algerian representative, Imane Khelif, forced her opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, to abandon the match after just 46 seconds. Imane was then accused of being a biological male and having an unfair advantage in the sport.
The controversy regarding Imane Khelif began last year, when the boxer failed a gender equality test and was not allowed to compete at the World Championships. Regardless of that, Imane was allowed to compete at the biggest sporting event on earth, the 2024 Olympic Games.
The bout started with seemingly no controversy, as two boxers were testing each other and waiting for one to make a move. However, they soon started exchanging punches, with Imane Khelif being the more aggressive of the two. However, after half a minute of boxing, Angela Carini asked to have her head gear adjusted. Once that was done, she returned to the center of the ring, where she was met by another powerful strike to the head. Consequently, Angela turned to her corner once again and officially abandoned the match.
As the ring was prepared for the announcement of the winner, Angela Carini was seen holding her nose to see if any blood was dripping out. Then, once the ceremony was over, Angela Carini avoided any contact with Imane Khelif, dropping to the floor just a few seconds later, unable to contain her tears. However, the drama just began there, as the post-fight interview sparked true controversy.
Watch the full Imane Khelif vs Angela Carini match here:
Angela Carini’s Post-Fight Interview
Angela Carini was still in tears while conducting the post-fight interview and was willing to reveal everything that she had in mind. Firstly, she revealed what the exact reason for her withdrawal from the match was.
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“I stopped because I felt a strong pain in my nose.”
Angela continued by revealing that the second shot that she received was devastating for her, as it injured her nose. She also added that she has “never taken a punch like that” and that it was simply impossible to continue the match.
Angela Carini did, however, add that she was not in a position to judge the match or comment on regulations, but was visibly frustrated by everything that came into play. This prompted the fans of the sport to form their own opinion, which grew into the biggest scandal of the 2024 Olympics.
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Imane Khelif’s Failed Gender Eligibility Test
The biggest issue that many fans have with Imane Khelif’s appearance at the 2024 Olympics is her failed Gender Eligibility Test from last year. Namely, the Algerian boxer was not allowed to compete at the World Championships. Well, the exact reasons for this were not specified, but speculation has been that Iman’s testosterone levels were above the allowed limit.
Because of this, the reaction from the community varied a lot. One portion believes that this is an indication of the fact that Imane Khelif is a biological male. On the other hand, some believe that the increased testosterone levels are truly natural for Imane as a female. Still, a small portion of the community looks at the fact that the increased testosterone levels could have actually been a consequence of doping at the time. So, it comes down to the opinion of the individual.
The twist in this story came when pictures of Imane Khelif’s childhood emerged, where she was seemingly a female. Moreover, her passport states that she is actually a female, with no proof at this time that Imane has undergone a legal gender change.
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International Olympic Committee Reaction
Shortly after the match, the International Olympic Committee reached out to the public in order to resolve any confusion. They revealed that Imane Khelif was registered as a female athlete, with no suspicion of the fact that the boxer could be male. Furthermore, they revealed that the question of gender is not as simple as it sounds.
“All athletes competing in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility rules and entry regulations.”
“Testosterone is not a perfect test. Many women can have testosterone in what would be called male levels and still be women. This idea that you do one test for testosterone to sort everything out is not the case, I’m afraid.”
The International Olympic Committee also touched upon the history of the athlete in question, stating that they have won and lost against other women. For reference, Imane Khelif has had 50 boxing matches so far. Out of those, the Algerian boxer has managed to win 37, five of which by knockout, and has lost nine matches in total. All of the matches took place in the female division.
“They have competed, and they continue to compete in the women’s division. They have lost and they have won against other women throughout the years. By the way, this is not a transgender issue, but I think there has been some misreporting on this,” said Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson.
Check out the official IOC statement here:
Since the IOC believes that everything is within regulation regarding Imane Khelif, she will continue competing at the 2024 Olympics. Moreover, Angela Carini has apologized to Imane Khelif, revealing that she never meant to push any hate towards her and is sorry for not shaking her hand after the match. Angela was under the effect of her emotions, especially since she wanted to push for the medal in honor of her late father, who passed shortly after the previous Olympic Games.
I hope that you reach the finals and that you win the Olympics… All the things that people are saying against me and against her, we both have nothing to do with it. We are here just because we are chasing a dream… I lost, Imane won, and that is okay,” said Angela.
The question of gender, especially in female sports, is quite complicated in multiple aspects. However, it is important to note that there are many disorders of sexual differentiation which can come into play. In this case, the IOC has made the decision to let Imane Khelif continue competing, meaning that she is going to the next round of the tournament, where she will face Luca Anna Hamori.
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