The great controversy came to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Algerian boxer Imane Khelifwho failed a gender test at the 2023 World Cup but it was enabled by the International Olympic Committeewon this Thursday in his debut in just 46 seconds of combat.
The Italian Angela Carini He decided to leave the ring after receiving a powerful right hook to the face from Khelif.
After the coup, Carini He raised his arm and went to his corner to speak to his coach, who communicated his withdrawal to the referee with his hands.
The judge called both boxers to the center of the ring and raised the arm of Khelif as the winner in the round of 16 of the welterweight (between 63.5 and 66.6 kg), while Carini fell to his knees in tearsThe Algerian then approached to shake his hand, but Carini avoided it.
“I couldn’t go on. My nose hurt so much that I said, ‘Stop.’ It was better not to go on.”the Italian woman later recounted. “It could have been the fight of my life, but at that moment I had to save my life too”he warned.
“I’ve always fought against men, I train with my brother, but today I felt too much pain”he assured Carini on the power of the blows received.
The controversy surrounding Khelif, a transgender boxer, with the IOC and the IBF
Khelif She is one of two female boxers whose presence in Paris has raised severe criticism, including from some female boxers, after they were disqualified from the 2023 World Cup for not passing gender eligibility tests. However, they were considered suitable for the Paris Games.
The website for media of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) indicates that Khelif25, was disqualified from the World Cup for “elevated levels of testosterone that did not meet eligibility criteria.”
The Taiwanese Yu Ting Linwho will debut on Friday in the 57kg, was disqualified for the same reason from the 2023 World Championships, organized by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
Both boxers competed in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo-2020where the Algerian finished in fifth place and the Taiwanese in ninth.
After the first fight, the coach of Khelif, Mohamed Chaouautold the press that his pupil “All this controversy gives him the strength to continue forward.”
This Thursday, Khelif She was received at the Paris Arena North with great applause from numerous fans of Algeriawaving their national flags.
Hours before, the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) He had come out in defense of his boxer, claiming that she was a victim of “lies” and of “unethical attacks”.
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IOC defends Khelif amid criticism
He IOCwhich took over the organization of Olympic boxing due to governance, financial and ethical problems of the FIBsupported the presence of both boxers at the Games on Tuesday.
“All those who compete in the women’s category do so in compliance with the eligibility rules of the competition”said the spokesman for the IOC, Mark Adam.
“These are women in their passports and it is established that they are women”he stressed.
“The testosterone test is not a perfect test. Many women can have testosterone levels equal to or similar to men, while still being women.”concluded the IOC representative.
Source: Ambito
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