International
Italian female boxer quits Olympic bout, igniting gender fairness debate
On 1 August, Italian boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears after abandoning her bout against Algerian Imane Khelif just 46 seconds in. Khelif’s inclusion in the women’s Olympic competition has recently ignited a heated debate over gender and fair play in sports.
At the Paris Olympics on 1 August, Italian boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears after she abandoned her bout against the Algerian Imane Khelif after 46 seconds in a fight that sparked huge controversy at the Olympics.
She withdrew after receiving a powerful punch from Khelif.
Carini, struck squarely in the face, paused momentarily before turning her back and walking to her corner.
Her coaches quickly indicated that she would not continue, leading the referee to stop the fight.
Khelif, 25, was allowed to compete in the Olympics despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships over eligibility concerns related to competing in women’s sports.
Similarly, Lin Yu-ting, another athlete barred from the world championships under comparable circumstances, has also been cleared to compete in Paris.
The International Boxing Association, which oversaw the championships and imposed the disqualifications, in a 31 July statement clarified that both athletes were disqualified for not undergoing a testosterone examination, instead being subjected to a different, recognized test.
The association described this test as confidential and said it “conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria and had competitive advantages over other female competitors.”
The inclusion of the two boxers with eligibility concerns in the women’s Olympic competition has recently ignited a heated debate over gender and fair play in sports.
The International Olympic Committee defends its decision to allow Khelif to compete in Olympic
In a statement released on Thursday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended its decision to allow Lin and Khelif to compete, asserting that the athletes were facing “aggression” due to an arbitrary decision.
“The IOC is saddened by the abuse directed at these athletes,” the IOC said. “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
IOC stressed that both Lin and Khelif had been competing in international boxing for years and had participated in previous major events, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
IOC affirmed that all athletes competing in the boxing tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics comply with eligibility, entry, and medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).
It noted that, as with previous Olympic Games, athletes’ gender and age are based on their passports.
The IOC explained that the regulations for Paris 2024 were developed using the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline to ensure consistency and minimize disruption to athletes’ preparations.
These rules were based on the post-Rio 2016 regulations, which were in effect before the suspension of the boxing International Federation by the IOC in 2019 and its subsequent withdrawal of recognition in 2023.
The IOC criticized the International Boxing Association (IBA) for its “sudden and arbitrary decision” that led to the disqualification of Lin and Khelif.
“Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were disqualified without due process,” the IOC stated.
“According to the IBA minutes available on their website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO.”
“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”
Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit/IOC Statementhttps://t.co/22yVzxFuLd pic.twitter.com/fZvgsW8OOi
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 1, 2024
Carini: “I quit to save my life”
After announcing her defeat, Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand, then collapsed to her knees in the ring and began to cry.
“I am heartbroken,” she told reporters. “I went to the ring to honour my father. I was often called a warrior, but I chose to quit to save my life. I have never felt a punch like this.”
She added, “I entered the ring to fight. I didn’t give up. But one punch hurt too much, so I said, ‘Enough.’ I’m leaving with my head held high.”
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.#IStandWithAngelaCarini #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Iu5QAwCgWU
— Yanika_Lit (@LogicLitLatte) August 1, 2024
Online outcry over the match
Carini chose not to comment on whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete. “I am not in a position to judge this match,” she said. “I am not a referee.”
Thursday’s forfeit sparked strong reactions in Italy and the online community.
Prominent figures, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, criticized the inclusion of athletes with male genetic characteristics in women’s competitions.
Meloni argued that, from her perspective, it was not a fair contest.
Author J.K. Rowling also condemned the Paris Olympics, calling it a “disgrace” after a biological male defeated a female boxer in the women’s category.
“A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to compete against her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke, and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini,” Rowling said.
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 #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini. https://t.co/JMKzVljpyr
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, expressed her concern about what had happened.
“Angela Carini rightly followed her instincts and prioritised her physical safety, but she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex,” she tweeted.
#Angelacarini 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.— Reem Alsalem UNSR Violence Against Women and Girls (@UNSRVAW) August 1, 2024
Algerian Olympic Committee condemns ‘unethical targeting’ of Khelif
Agence France-Presse reported that Khelif alleged she was the victim of a “big conspiracy” following her disqualification just before the final at last year’s world championships.
On Wednesday, the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) issued a statement strongly condemning the “unethical targeting and maligning” of Khelif.
The COA criticized “baseless propaganda” from certain foreign media outlets and asserted that such attacks on Khelif’s personality and dignity are profoundly unjust, especially as she prepares for the Olympics.
The COA also stated that it has taken all necessary measures to protect its champion.
Imane Khelif’s Next Opponent Speaks Out
Anna Luca Hamori, a Hungarian boxer and Khelif’s upcoming opponent has spoken out about her upcoming bout.
In an interview, Hamori stated that she is “not scared” to face Khelif, regardless of the controversy surrounding the match.
“I’m not scared,” Hamori said. I don’t care about the press story and social media. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
Khelif is set to take on Hamori in the next round on Saturday.
This is Luca Anna Hamori 🇭🇺, a 23-year old warrior and the first female Hungarian Olympic boxer. She is the next opponent for Amine Khelif.
“I’m not scared.” she told the press. “If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
Whole world is with you Luca❤️ pic.twitter.com/cobznW7KpB
— Hungarian Football 🇭🇺 (@HungarianFooty) August 1, 2024
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IOC now like the new cocksuckers in town.
X chromosome 1 category
Y chromosome 1 category
XY- YX— chromosome 1 category Lah CB.
Men wannabe Women or
Woman wannabe Men want to compete against each other, let them be.
This will actually force certain countries to recognise LGBQT— whatever fuck it stands for but as a Fair minded person it allows them & gives them their rights as well.
Keep it Simple IOC Fools.
“Gender Fairness Debate”?
It’s a Women’s sports reserved for Women.
A Man should not be competing against Women in a Women’s sporting match.
Should we open maternity wards to men too for “gender fairness?”
You had lost
Ms Hamori
You have lost to a ” if she or he is a man “
S1
There are male and female categories in sports for a very simple and specific reason, because, … males are physically stronger, more powerful and faster than females of similar age. The difference in athletic performance of the sexes where endurance or muscular power is required, … is roughly 10 to 30 percent, depending on the event. Common sense has to find it’s way to the minds of officials and executives who decides on such matters, … and it was right and fair that the world bodies of athletics, cycling, swimming, rugby and cricket have banned trans woman from competing in… Read more »
IOC has many scandals in the recent past; it is more towards commercialization of its brand than ensuring the spirit of FAIR sportsmanship (or sportswomanship for the liberals). It should relook at gender criteria, like maybe muscle-to-mass ratio, boxer differentiated according to certain weight categories, etc.., instead of simply what gender is stated in the passport. Like the pappies, IOC is a rich organization just happy to do a half-fuxk job to look good.
It’s not what one chooses to believe or accept – it’s entirely individuals choice and selection which no one can impose. No offence intended, I apologise if any offence I caused, like some believe in monkey as God. That’s reality that’s happenning right, which I don’t cook up. And I respect this. Fact is one is either born out to be a male or female, same as in the entire animal kingdom or feathered kingdom, or marine kingdom. The birth is conceived with natural amalgamation (some is articial insemination) of eggs of parents. Nothing can change that. This’s fact. The… Read more »
Know the Moral of this Story ?
Wokeism gone too far …
Lost common sense.
Trans females shd only compete against other trans females..
They have too much advantage in terms of strength over normal females.
You can be whoever or whatever you want, but shouldnt force it on others…
Respect of each others domain is key.
Please dont cry
That was your liberal mind
Exactly, if you wanna be half half. Please create another category for sex change candidates – male to female …
Much has happened in this transgender in sports debate. The absolute worst is having to share locker rooms with someone who has supposedly transitioned to being female. For me, to avoid confusion and accusations of being anti this and anti that, all persons can only take part in sports in the gender one is borned with. For the latest boxing fiasco, the IOC seems to use the Algerian’s passport (which states she was female) as sufficient to allow him/her to fight as a female. No talk of some scientific yardstick! This was against the IBF (International Boxing Federation) which ruled… Read more »
Where are the woke feminists when you need them? Why did they allow this madness to happen? Why did they allow women to be pummeled in the boxing ring or raped in prisons by males who “identify” as females?
I identify as a king. My pronouns are “Your Majesty” and “My Lord”. Address me as such or you’ll incur my wrath, you pathetic peasants!
It’s just simply an absolute disgrace and disgust 🤢 when human beings select choices how they decide and judge who is a man and who is a woman based on their yardstick and understanding which is what when science, biology has already made known the very first moment inside one’s mommy’s womb what chromosones has fused and what embroyonic sex has already been determined.
Ridiculously going against nature. No wonder man goes to war against another fellow, kill another when there’s disagreement.