Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, who failed a gender eligibility test last year, defeated her Italian opponent in just 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
A distraught Angela Carini, visibly hurt, refused Khelif’s attempt at a handshake, collapsed to her knees, and broke into tears in front of dozens of reporters.
Khelif advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s 66kg category after delivering two powerful punches to Carini, who had blood on her shorts and was unable to continue due to a badly injured nose. “I have a big pain in my nose and I said, ‘Stop’. It’s better to avoid keeping going. My nose started dripping with blood from the first hit,” said Carini.
The 25-year-old added: “I fought very often in the national team. I train with my brother. I’ve always fought against men, but I felt too much pain today.” Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who will fight on Friday in the 57kg category, were disqualified from the world championships last year but are eligible to compete in Paris.
According to the IOC website for accredited media, Khelif was disqualified due to “elevated levels of testosterone that failed to meet the eligibility criteria.” Italy’s Angela Carini reacts during her women’s 66kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match against Algeria’s Imane Khelif during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 1, 2024.
Both Khelif and Lin competed in the women’s event at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. As the controversy threatened to overshadow the sixth day of the Games, Prime Minister, Meloni criticized the fight for being “not on an equal footing.” “I do not agree with the IOC,” she said. “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions,” she said during a meeting with Italian athletes in Paris, according to a video she posted on X.
Khelif, who placed fifth in Tokyo, received a huge cheer when she entered the North Paris Arena, where numerous Algeria fans waved the country’s flag. Before and during the brief bout, they chanted her name, but the action was over quickly.
Explaining her emotional reaction, Carini said: “It’s for my father. I am sorry not to have taken Italy onto the podium. I’m going out with my head held high.” Earlier on Thursday, Algeria’s Olympic Committee (COA) condemned what it called “malicious and unethical attacks directed against our distinguished athlete, Imane Khelif, by certain foreign media,” describing the accusations as “completely unfair lies.”
IOC spokesman, Mark Adams stated this week: “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports and it’s stated in there that they are female.”
At least one woman boxer at the Games has spoken out about the controversy. Australia’s Caitlin Parker, competing in the 75kg weight class, made her stance clear: “I don’t agree with that being allowed, especially in combat sports as it can be incredibly dangerous,” she said.
