In another surprising turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, an Algerian male boxer, Imane Khelif, has emerged victorious in a women’s boxing match, sparking widespread controversy and outrage. Khelif, who has been the center of attention due to his eligibility, won the match against Italy’s Angela Carini. The bout lasted a mere 46 seconds, with Khelif delivering two powerful punches that left Carini visibly shaken and in tears, ultimately forcing her to quit.
Carini’s Reaction
Carini, who entered the ring with high hopes, expressed frustration after the match, stating, “I felt something was not right after being battered by Khelif.” Her coach, Emanuele Renzini, confirmed that quitting was not part of the plan, underscoring the unexpected nature of the bout.
NEW: South Park becomes reality after biological male boxer Imane Khelif forces Italian female Angela Carini to quit in 46 seconds at the Olympics.
Khelif is a biological man who failed gender eligibility tests at the 2023 World Championships.
Carini shouted “this is unjust” as… pic.twitter.com/nQeMqA4Cve
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 1, 2024
Background on Khelif
The controversy surrounding Khelif stems from his previous disqualification from the 2023 World Boxing Championships due to him being male. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed him to compete in the women’s category based on his passport, which denotes him as female. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, questioning the fairness of allowing a male athlete to compete against women.
Political and Public Reaction
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced her concerns, stating, “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio also criticized the situation, saying, “First, it’s drag queens mocking the Last Supper. Now, biological men are allowed to punch women at the Olympics.” The Trump campaign has also weighed in, promising to “take immediate action to protect women and girls” if elected.
Continued Debate
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) has defended Khelif, asserting that he is not a transgender woman and that the criticisms against him are “baseless propaganda.” The International Boxing Association (IBA), however, has opposed Khelif’s participation. IBA President Umar Kremlev explained the disqualification at the time, stating, “We identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women.”
As the debate continues, this incident raises obvious concerns about men competing in female sports. With the Paris Olympics serving as a global stage, the controversy is likely to continue to draw attention and spark further discussion on this complex issue.