In a highly controversial bout, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif delivered a decisive knockout to Italian opponent Angela Carini in just 46 seconds during the 66 kg women's boxing category at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday.
In a highly controversial bout, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif delivered a decisive knockout to Italian opponent Angela Carini in just 46 seconds during the 66 kg women's boxing category at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday. The match, held as part of the ongoing tournament, has ignited a fierce debate over gender eligibility in women's sports, with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, billionaire Elon Musk, author JK Rowling and more voicing strong opposition to Khelif's participation.
The IOC has legitimized male violence against women as entertainment.
Get men out of women's sports. who should never have been made to enter a boxing ring with Imane Khelif. pic.twitter.com/3PLxDmf4e0
This woman, Angela Carini, is crying because her dream of winning a medal for her late father was destroyed in 46 seconds.
Male boxer Imane Khelif beat up Angela Carini and punched her in the face. pic.twitter.com/Iu5QAwCgWU
rightly followed her instincts and prioritized her physical safety, but she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological
Violence based on their sex.
A Swift and Controversial Win
The bout, expected to be a standard three-round match, ended abruptly when Khelif landed two powerful punches that left Carini unable to continue. The Italian boxer's nose began bleeding after the first hit, causing her to signal for the match to be stopped. Carini, visibly distraught, collapsed in the ring and did not shake hands with Khelif, who advanced to the quarterfinals.
"I have a big pain in my nose and I said, 'Stop'. It's better to avoid keeping going. My nose started dripping [with blood] from the first hit," said Carini, expressing her distress over the incident.
This is heartbreaking. 💔
Transgender people are not only trying to ruin women's sports, now the and the entire gays rights movement. 🇮🇹
Imane Khelif literally spells out "I MAN!" pic.twitter.com/SmB9d2Clve pic.twitter.com/J1qSTZtmdd
Political and Public Outcry
The match has drawn criticism from several high-profile figures, including Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. In a statement, Meloni argued that athletes with male genetic characteristics should not be allowed to compete in women's events, stating, "I think athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women's competitions. And not because you want to discriminate against someone, but to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms."
Meloni further expressed her concern about the fairness of the match, emphasizing the importance of a level playing field in sports. "It also matters to be able to compete on equal grounds and from my point of view, it was not an even contest," she added.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk too responded, "Absolutely", to a post that read: Men don't belong in women's sports
Absolutely https://t.co/twccUEOW9e
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)Renowned author JK Rowling also weighed in on the controversy, condemning the inclusion of Khelif in the women's category. "Explain why you're OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn't sport," Rowling tweeted, calling the match a display of "men revelling in their power over women."
"A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and Paris 24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini," she further said.
She added, "Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better? The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered."
Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport. From the bullying cheat in red all the way up to the organisers who allowed this to happen, this is men revelling in their power over women. https://t.co/u32FcDTy9p
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini. https://t.co/JMKzVljpyr
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better? The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered. pic.twitter.com/Q5SbKiksXQ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)Background and Context
The controversy stems from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to allow two boxers, including Khelif, who had previously failed gender eligibility tests, to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Last year, Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal match at the women's World Championships in Delhi due to high levels of testosterone. Similarly, Taiwanese double world champion Lin Yu-ting lost her bronze medal at the same competition for failing to meet gender criteria.
Umar Kremlev, President of the Amateur Boxing Association, clarified the situation, stating that DNA tests confirmed both athletes had XY chromosomes, typically associated with males. This revelation has fueled the ongoing debate over gender eligibility in women's sports.
A man just hit a woman until she cried. Normally we have a word for that and it isn’t “sport”.
My heart goes out to Angela Carini. you need to hang your heads in shame. Imane Khelif is a man. pic.twitter.com/v6eEQRFZBf
International Reactions and Support
Despite the controversy, both Khelif and Lin Yu-ting have received support from their respective nations. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te praised Yu-ting's accomplishments, stating, "Yu-ting's performances have inspired many Taiwanese players and united Taiwanese people. Now that she is once again on the international stage, we should stand united and cheer for her."
Similarly, Algeria's Olympic committee defended Khelif, condemning the criticism as a "malicious and unethical attack" against their athlete.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), which organized the controversial World Championships, reiterated its stance, noting that Khelif initially appealed the IBA's ruling but later withdrew the appeal, making the decision legally binding. Lin Yu-ting, however, did not appeal, thereby accepting the decision.
Algeria‘s biological man Imane Khelif has beat Italy’s Angela Carini after only 45 sec in 66 kg boxing preliminaries at the .
What a disgrace!
What about the rights of biological female athletes?
Where are all the feminists when you need them?pic.twitter.com/KOV9rLKZ2K
The Role of the IOC
The IOC, responsible for organizing the boxing competition at the Paris Olympics, has maintained that all athletes competing in the women's category comply with the eligibility rules. Mark Adams, an IOC spokesman, emphasized that the competitors are recognized as female in their passports, ensuring their participation under the IOC's guidelines.
However, the IBA has raised concerns about the IOC's differing regulations, questioning the fairness and safety of allowing athletes with potential competitive advantages to compete. In response, the IOC has stressed the implementation of comprehensive mental health and safeguarding initiatives for the Paris 2024 Olympics, a sentiment echoed by Kirsty Burrows, Head of the Safe Sport Unit at the IOC.
The incident has sparked a global conversation about gender eligibility in sports, with many calling for clearer and more consistent regulations to ensure fair competition. As the debate continues, the world watches closely to see how the IOC and other sports organizations will address these contentious issues.
Here's a look at some of the reactions on X:
The Olympics allowed a biological man, Imane Khelif, to fight as a woman despite his XY chromosomes. The end result?
“I have never been hit so hard in my life.”
Italian Olympian Angela Carini lasted 46 seconds before quitting due to how painful it was. It’s just shameful that… pic.twitter.com/OWhKggM7qe
This biological male just left his female opponent in tears after beating her in the Paris Olympics WOMENS boxing.
Imane Khelif, who claims to be a woman, previously failed a gender test after being found to have male XY chromosomes.
Should men be allowed in women’s sports? pic.twitter.com/qwLtH57cNl
Imane Khelif is a cheater, a loser, and a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/07vSdknil5
— Tour Golf (@PGATUOR)Algeria's Imane Khelif is a biological male. He was disqualified from World Championships for possessing XY chromosomes. But the IOC admitted him. Here he lands horrific blows on Italy's Angela Carini. Bout lasted 46 seconds.
Angela said this is unfair. Wrong. This is criminal. pic.twitter.com/u662hjyocx
Today, Angela Carini had her Olympics dreams shattered by Imane Khelif, a male boxer.
It is suspected that he BROKE HER NOSE.
Don’t let this pass quietly. MEN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BEAT WOMEN FOR SPORT.
SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS. pic.twitter.com/i5GMdgWrwb
The IOC has sanctioned male brutality against women for amusement. Remove men from women's sports. who should never have been forced to step into a boxing ring with Imane Khelif.
This is all about male dominance. They actually endangered a woman's life.… pic.twitter.com/eYpKUGT26n
Most shameful moment of
A female athlete Angela Carini (in blue) was forced to fight against a male identifying himself as female Imane Khelif (in red).
He knocked her off in a few minutes...
Shame on you . pic.twitter.com/EG33T5OBnw
A WOMAN , she was , she is and she will be forever
due to the misinformations that spread from UNKNOWN SOURCES , accusing IMANE KHELIF this MUSLIM GIRL for being TRANSGENDER ! are LIES ! Those TERRIBLE operations are totally BANNED IN ALGERIA 🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/6zNWu8B6J9