New footage has surfaced showing a British fighter defeating Algerian Imane Khelif in the finals of the 2022 Women’s World Championship, amidst ongoing boxing controversies surrounding the Paris Olympics.
Khelif claimed victory in her first bout today after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew just 46 seconds into the match due to an eligibility dispute that allowed the Algerian boxer to compete in the women’s division.
During the opening round of the welterweight match, Carini was struck twice by Khelif, causing her chin strap to detach, which prompted Carini to return briefly to her corner.
Upon re-entering the ring, Carini ultimately decided to forfeit the match, resulting in Khelif being declared the winner.
In the meantime, a video has resurfaced featuring Amy Broadhurst defeating Khelif two years ago, with the British fighter sharing a clip of the second round of their match on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif, left, won the women’s welterweight bout when Angela Carini, right, abandoned the contest
Ahead of the controversial fight, boxer Amy Broadhurst took to X, formerly Twitter, to give her views on the situation
Carini was hit twice in the opening round before abandoning the contest after 46 seconds
This follows Broadhurst sharing her thoughts on the matter yesterday prior to the contentious match. ‘I’ve received a lot of messages about Imane Khelif,’ she stated. ‘In my opinion, I don’t think she has done anything to “cheat.”‘
‘I believe it’s a matter of how she was born, which is beyond her control. The fact that she has suffered defeats to nine female opponents speaks volumes.’
Broadhurst, who was the 2022 IBA World Light-welterweight champion and won gold in the lightweight category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was picked to compete for Team GB in an Olympic qualifier earlier this year, but unfortunately faced defeat.
Khelif’s opponent today, who stated prior to the match that she could ‘only adjust to the Olympic rules’, was visibly upset in the ring following the sudden end to the fight.
‘I entered the ring to compete. I did not give up, but after a punch caused me significant pain, I declared it was enough,’ Carini remarked post-fight, as reported by ANSA.
‘I am leaving with my head high.’
The Italian boxer dropped to her knees after abandoning and was seen crying in the ring
The International Boxing Association, led by president Umar Kremlev, claimed their participation at the Olympics ‘raise questions about fairness and athletes’ safety’
Khelif’s involvement in the competition has stirred significant debate, especially considering her disqualification from last year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships.
The Olympics website highlighted that Khelif was disqualified mere hours before her anticipated gold medal match versus China’s Yang Liu in New Delhi due to elevated testosterone levels that did not meet the eligibility requirements.
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) countered this decision, asserting that the disqualification was part of a ‘conspiracy’ aimed at preventing them from winning a gold medal and attributed her high testosterone levels to ‘medical reasons.’
Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan was also disqualified from the World Championships.
Feminist website Reduxx reported that both athletes are believed to be affected by a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), a collection of medical conditions typically identified at birth with atypical genitalia related to chromosomes.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) issued a statement this past Wednesday indicating that their decisions followed a ‘meticulous review.’
The IBA clarified that neither athlete had undergone testosterone testing, but were subjected to a recognized and separate test conducted during their World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
The results reportedly ‘conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria,’ revealing both boxers to have ‘competitive advantages over other female competitors.’
Khelif’s participation in the event has been a source of controversy having been disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year
Carini, right, admitted before the fight that ‘she could ‘only adapt to the rules of the Olympics’
The Algerian team have hit back at ‘baseless attacks’ against Khelif ahead of the competition
The IBA criticized the IOC, stating their differing regulations ‘raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety.’
Due to ongoing governance issues, the IBA has been stripped of its recognized status by the IOC and has established the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit to oversee the event.
The Boxing Unit has sanctioned the participation of both athletes under the less stringent rules from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics compared to the IBA’s regulations.
Both Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting participated in Tokyo, with both losing in the initial stages of their respective competitions.
Ahead of Khelif’s first fight in Paris 2024, the COA condemned the ‘baseless attacks’ targeted at their boxer.
‘The COA vehemently denounces the unethical targeting and defamation of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, motivated by unfounded propaganda from certain foreign media.’
‘Such character and dignity assaults are profoundly unjust, particularly as she gears up for the high point of her career at the Olympics. The COA is taking all necessary measures to safeguard our champion.’
‘I left the ring with pride,’ Carini added.
Mark Adams, an IOC spokesperson, cautioned against a ‘witch hunt’ against the two boxers authorized to compete in Paris and criticized inaccurate reporting, emphasizing that the matters do not pertain to transgender issues.
Adams called for a calming of rhetoric, insisting that they are ‘entirely comfortable with the rules’ which were previously applied during the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Nonetheless, Adams’s appeal has not diminished the criticism regarding the decisions to permit their participation.
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi voiced concerns ahead of the bout, stating that Carini was not engaged in fair competition and questioned safety standards.
‘I struggle to comprehend why there is no uniformity in the minimum hormonal values across international competitions, including European and world championships, and the Olympics.’
‘In events that should embody the highest sporting principles, the safety of both female and male athletes must be ensured, alongside a commitment to fair competition. That cannot be assured for Angela Carini.’
Eugenia Roccella, the Minister for Family and Equal Opportunities in Italy, went even further by asserting that Khelif and Yu-Ting are transgender.
Italian sporting bodies have generally taken a more conservative stance, with the president of the boxing federation, Flavio D’Ambrosi, deferring to the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).
Khelif had also competed at the Tokyo Olympics but was beaten in the early rounds
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi claimed Carini was not competing in a fair competition
Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan (left) will join Khelif in competing at the Paris Olympics this summer
‘Regarding Carini, with caution and institutional responsibility, I am leaving it up to the CONI,’ said D’Ambrosi. ‘The appropriate party to engage with the IOC is the Olympic Committee. I am aware that CONI is already pursuing a specific query and we are awaiting their response.
‘I haven’t had any contact with athlete Carini, but she isn’t anxious; she needs to focus on her match, and we will see the outcome. The media and spectators will need to render their judgment. This is a unique scenario that should align with respect for the Olympic charter’s values and regulations.’
The CONI issued a statement on their website, which did not mention Khelif, declaring: ‘CONI has collaborated with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that all athletes’ rights comply with the Olympic Charter and health regulations.’
