It took a mere 46 seconds in the ring for Italy’s Angela Carini to abandon a fight against an opponent reportedly with male chromosomes.
That opponent is Imane Khelif of Algeria, who walked away victorious in the 66-kilogram women’s division at the Paris Olympics Thursday, Fox News reported.
The end of the fight showcased a contrast in emotions as Khelif celebrated while Carini was in tears and was heard questioning the fairness of the fight.
Carini talked about why she left the match.
“I got into the ring to fight,” she told Italy’s ANSA. “I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said enough.
“I’m going out with my head held high,” she said.
Emanuele Renzini, Carini’s coach, Emanuele Renzini, said quitting the match wasn’t a part of her game plan.
“It would have been easier not to show up, because all of Italy had been asking her not to fight for days,” Renzini said. “But Angela was motivated and wanted to do it.
“Of course, when she met her opponent at the draw, she said ‘it’s not fair.’ But there was no premeditation here today She quit after taking one punch, she told me she didn’t feel she could fight,” he said.
Khelif gave thanks to Algeria, per Reuters.
“First, I thank all the Algerian people, after this first victory,” Khelif said. “I hope to achieve a second victory to secure a medal, and then think about the gold medal.”
“I tell the Algerian people that I am working to provide the best I can in order to make them happy,” Khelif said.
Khelif’s participation in the women’s division has been controversial previously as the boxer failed a gender eligibility test in 2023. Khelif was disqualified during the 2023 World Championships and sanctioned by the International Boxing Association, per Fox News.
The IBA said Khelif, and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting did not meet the gender eligibility standards.
“Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women. According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition,” IBA president Umar Kremlev said.
Khelif and the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) have denied those claims.
The International Olympic Committee subsequently cleared Khelif to compete in the Paris Games, Fox News reported.
“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. “They are women in their passports and it’s stated that this is the case, that they are female.”
The COA, backing its boxer, called the claims “baseless.”
“COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets,” the committee said, Reuters reported.
“Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion,” the committee added.
According to Italy’s ANSA Rosario Coco, the president of Gaynet Communications in Italy, said he learned Khelif was intersex and not trans gender.
“In contrast to the reports that have been circulating, the Algerian athlete Imane Khelif is not a trans woman,” Coco said.
“From the information we have about her, she is an intersex person, who has always socialized as a woman and has a sporting history in women’s competitions.”
Update: 08/01/2024, 3:05 p.m.: The International Boxing Association issued a statement on Wednesday. IJR removed the Reuters citation that Khelif tested positive high levels of testosterone, based on the statement stating that examination did not take place.
Read the statement below:
“On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023. This disqualification was a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out in the IBA Regulations. This decision, made after a meticulous review, was extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.
Point to note, the athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognized test, whereby the specifics remain confidential. This test conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.
The decision made by IBA on 24 March 2023, was subsequently ratified by the IBA Board of Directors on 25 March 2023. The official record of this decision can be accessed on the IBA website here IBA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes.
The disqualification was based on two tests conducted on both athletes as follows:
Test performed during the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul 2022.
Test performed during the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi 2023.
For clarification
Lin Yu-ting did not appeal the IBA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), thus rendering the decision legally binding.
Imane Khelif initially appealed the decision to CAS but withdrew the appeal during the process, also making the IBA decision legally binding.
Our Committees have rigorously reviewed and endorsed the decision made during the World Championships. While IBA remains committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all of our events, we express concern over the inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by other sporting organizations, including those overseeing the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing regulations on these matters, in which IBA is not involved, raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety.
For clarification on why the IOC permits athletes with competitive advantages to compete in their events, we urge interested parties to seek answers directly from the IOC.”
