Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has progressed to the next round of the Women’s 66kg category at the 2024 Olympic Games albeit in a very controversial manner.
Her opponent, Italian Angela Carini, abandoned the bout after just 46 seconds forcing the referee to call off the match and declare Khelif as the winner. Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand afterwards and cried on her knees in the ring.
In the lead up to the contest, there were serious questions over Khelif’s gender with the Algerian getting disqualified at 2023 World Championship after failing an “unspecified gender eligibility test” sparking serious debate over the thorny issue of transgender athletes.
IBA (International Boxing Association) ruled Khelif out of last year’s competition due to what the body reported as elevated levels of testosterone.
The issue has taken on international interest with the Algerian Olympic Committee releasing a statement with the quotes, “unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.”
On the other hand, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for equality stating, “We have to pay attention, in an attempt to not discriminate, that we’re actually discriminating” against women’s rights…it also counts having a parity of arms”.
The International Olympic Committee has however has defended Khelif’s right to compete.
