Hit and myths: The truth about Algerian boxer at centre of Olympics gender controversy
It took only 46 seconds of a women’s round of 16 welterweight bout between Algerian Imane Khelif and Italian Angela Carini to become one of the most controversial stories of Paris 2024.
After taking a punch to the face, Carini refused to fight on and eventually broke down in tears on her knees in the ring.
“It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well,” Carini told the BBC.
Who is Imane Khelif?
Khelif, 25, has been boxing since she was a child in Algeria. She competed at the women’s world championships in Russia in 2019 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she was beaten 5-0 in a quarter-final by Ireland’s eventual gold medal winner Kellie Harrington in the lightweight division.
Khelif won silver at the 2022 women’s world championships in Istanbul in the light-welterweight division, being defeated by Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst.
Italy’s Angela Carini (right) fights back tears after her fight against Algeria’s Imane Khelif.Credit: Eddie Jim
What misinformation has been reported on social media about Khelif?
Elon Musk and JK Rowling are two notable figures who have commented on Khelif on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines posted: “Men don’t belong in women’s sports”. Musk replied, “absolutely”.
Rowling posted: “Explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment.”
Khelif was born female and is not a transgender athlete.
Why was she disqualified from the 2023 world championships?
Khelif and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan, who are both competing in Paris, failed to meet gender eligibility tests at the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) women’s world championships in New Delhi last year, leading to their disqualifications.
What is the controversy about XY chromosomes?
Speaking last March to Russia’s Tass news agency, IBA president Umar Kremlev said Khelif and Yu‑ting were “posing” as women ahead of the 2023 world championships.
“Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues [by] posing as women,” Kremlev said.
“According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition.”
XX is the combination in females.
What has the IOC said about this?
In a statement, the International Olympic Committee criticised the IBA’s previous disqualification decision, calling it “arbitrary”.
“Towards the end of the IBA world championships in 2023, they [Yu-ting and Khelif] were suddenly disqualified without any due process,” the IOC said.
“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.
“The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving. Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
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