Imane Khelif secured victory in her first match after her Italian competitor, Angela Carini, withdrew just 46 seconds into the bout. This comes as Khelif, the Algerian boxer, is allowed to participate in the women’s event despite ongoing eligibility disputes.
Khelif’s involvement has stirred controversy due to her disqualification from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year.
As reported by the Olympics website, Khelif was disqualified mere hours before a gold medal match against Yang Liu from China in New Delhi, following her testosterone levels exceeding the required eligibility standards.
In response, the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) accused the disqualification of being a ‘conspiracy’ aimed at preventing them from winning a gold medal, citing ‘medical reasons’ for the elevated testosterone levels.
Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan was also disqualified during the World Championships.
Feminist site Reduxx speculated that both athletes may be affected by a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), a collection of medical conditions present at birth, leading to atypical genitalia in relation to their chromosomes.
On Wednesday, the International Boxing Association (IBA) released a statement indicating their decisions were made ‘after a meticulous review’.
The International Boxing Association, led by president Umar Kremlev, claimed their participation at the Olympics ‘raises questions about fairness and athletes’ safety’
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams had called for discussion to be ‘dialed down’ and warned against a witch-hunt against the two boxers ahead of Khelif’s first fight
The IBA clarified that neither athlete underwent testosterone tests but were ‘subject to a separate and recognized test’ conducted at their World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
It was claimed that the tests ‘conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria’, as both were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.
The IBA criticized the IOC, stating its varying regulations ”raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety.’
The IBA is not accountable for the Olympic competition, having been stripped of recognition by the IOC over ongoing governance disputes; the organization has established the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit to manage the event.
The Boxing Unit has accepted both boxers’ participation under the rules used for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which are less stringent than the IBA’s.
Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting both competed in Tokyo, both eliminated in the early rounds of their respective matches.
Before Khelif’s match in Paris 2024, the COA denounced ‘baseless attacks’ against their athlete.
‘The COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and disparagement of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, fueled by baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.
Khelif had also competed at the Tokyo Olympics but was beaten in the early rounds
Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan (left) will join Khelif in competing at the Paris Olympics this summer
‘Such attacks on her character and dignity are profoundly unjust, particularly as she gears up for the peak of her career at the Olympics. The COA is taking all necessary actions to protect our champion.’
Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson, cautioned against a ‘witch hunt’ against the two boxers cleared for competition in Paris and criticized the misrepresentation surrounding the situation, emphasizing that these cases are not related to transgender issues.
Adams called for a reduction in inflammatory rhetoric, affirming that he is ‘entirely comfortable with the rules’ that were previously applied during the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Despite the IOC’s call for calm, criticism continues regarding the approval for their participation.
Prior to the match, Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi expressed concerns about the fairness of competition, stating that Carini was not being treated fairly.
‘I find it difficult to comprehend how there is no uniformity in the minimum hormonal standards at the international level, which encompasses European championships and the Olympics,’ Abodi remarked.
‘In the event that represents the highest standards of sport, the safety of both female and male athletes must be ensured, along with a commitment to fair competition. Unfortunately, this will not be the case for Angela Carini.’
Eugenia Roccella, Italy’s Minister for Family and Equal Opportunities, went further by suggesting that Khelif and Yu-Ting are transgender.
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi claimed Carini was not competing in a fair competition
Italy’s sports governing bodies have been more cautious in their remarks, with boxing federation president Flavio D’Ambrosi deferring to the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).
‘Regarding the Carini situation, I am deferring to CONI with prudence and institutional responsibility,’ D’Ambrosi stated. ‘The Olympic Committee should be the one to discuss this with the IOC. I know CONI has already raised specific concerns, and we await their response.
‘I haven’t directly spoken with athlete Carini, but I know she’s focusing on her match, and we’ll see what happens. It’s a unique situation and should be handled with respect for the principles and guidelines of the Olympic charter.’
CONI released a statement on their website—without mentioning Khelif—asserting, ‘CONI has collaborated with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that the rights of all athletes are in accordance with the Olympic Charter and health regulations.’
