Imane Khelif of Algeria clinched victory in her initial Olympic boxing match on Thursday after her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, quit just 46 seconds into the bout.
Khelif, previously disqualified from the 2023 world championships due to an unspecified gender eligibility test, has sparked debate by competing in the Paris Olympics. There is no indication that she identifies as transgender.
Carini and Khelif exchanged a few punches before Carini abruptly abandoned the match, an uncommon occurrence in Olympic boxing. Carini’s headgear reportedly became dislodged twice before she decided to quit.
Reflecting her distress, Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand after the decision, weeping in the ring. She later explained that intense pain in her nose from the initial punches forced her to cease fighting. Carini, who had a spot of blood on her trunks, emphasized that her decision was not politically motivated.
“I felt severe pain in my nose and, with the maturity of a boxer, I decided it was enough because I couldn’t finish the match,” Carini stated.
Khelif, who received a warm reception from the crowd at the North Paris Arena, remains a seasoned amateur fighter, holding a silver medal from the 2022 world championships. The governing body disqualified her from last year’s championships due to elevated testosterone levels. Despite the bout’s abrupt conclusion, Khelif didn’t speak to reporters.
Carini also mentioned that she is not in a position to judge Khelif’s eligibility to compete, stating she had no issue fighting her.
The controversy around Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu‑ting has intensified, both having been subjected to gender-related scrutiny despite their longstanding amateur careers. Lin, who begins her Paris run on Friday, had also faced disqualification due to biochemical test results.
In response to these events, the Algerian Olympic Committee condemned what it labeled as “lies” and defamatory propaganda targeting Khelif from certain foreign media. Meanwhile, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni criticized the situation, emphasizing the need for fairness in women’s sports.
Khelif and Lin, both two-time Olympians, have faced no previous controversy at the Tokyo Games and were cleared to compete in Paris by the IOC task force. The IOC defended their participation, stating that all competitors in the women’s category comply with eligibility rules.
The IBA, banned from the past two Olympics, has questioned the IOC’s decisions, appealing to Swiss authorities. It criticized the confidential nature of the tests leading to the boxers’ disqualification.
Amid these debates, several women’s boxers have voiced concerns over fairness and safety in combat sports, stressing the need for rigorous scrutiny of gender eligibility.
“Biologically and genetically, they are going to have more advantages. Combat sports can be dangerous. Fairness is what it’s all about,” Australia middleweight Caitlin Parker remarked.