In a recent bout at the women’s welterweight division, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif found herself at the center of a heated controversy. The fight, held in Paris, ended abruptly when Khelif’s opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, withdrew after just 46 seconds of the first round.
Carini appeared to struggle after receiving two punches from Khelif, which dislodged her chin strap.
After a brief pause, Carini chose to abandon the match, leaving Khelif as the winner by default.
The match has drawn significant attention due to Khelif’s past disqualification from the Women’s World Boxing Championships. Last year, she was disqualified just hours before a gold medal bout against China’s Yang Liu due to elevated testosterone levels. The Algerian Olympic Committee responded strongly, alleging that the disqualification was part of a conspiracy and attributing the high testosterone levels to medical reasons.
In addition to Khelif, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting also faced disqualification from the World Championships under similar circumstances. Both athletes are reported to have a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), a medical condition affecting the development of sexual characteristics.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) recently defended its decision, stating that their reviews were thorough and conducted according to established protocols.
They criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for their differing regulations, which they argue compromise competitive fairness and athlete safety.
The IBA, which no longer oversees Olympic boxing due to ongoing governance issues, has been replaced by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit. This new body approved Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting’s participation under the less stringent rules of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Reactions and Criticisms
Ahead of Khelif’s first bout at Paris 2024, the Algerian Olympic Committee condemned what they described as “baseless attacks” against their athlete. They emphasized that the criticisms were unfair and undermined Khelif’s preparation for the Olympics.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams called for a reduction in the heated rhetoric surrounding the issue, urging a focus on the rules that have been in place since the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.
Despite these pleas, criticism has persisted, with Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi raising concerns about the fairness of the competition and the safety of the athletes involved.
The Road Ahead
Italian authorities have been cautious in their responses, with the boxing federation president, Flavio D’Ambrosi, deferring to the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) for further actions.
CONI has assured that it is working with the IOC to ensure compliance with the Olympic Charter and health regulations, though they have yet to issue specific statements regarding Khelif.
As the Olympics approach, the debate continues, with various stakeholders weighing in on the fairness and safety of the competition.
TDPel Media
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