Paris Olympics 2024 Boxing: Imane Khelif vs. Angela Carini Controversy is heating Up

The pre Quater match between Italy’s Angele Carini and Algeria’s Immane Khelifi lasted just 46 seconds in Paris Olympics boxing. Carini refused to continue the match citing her health threat. Carini said That The punches from Khelifi were so painful and that was the first experience in her career. Carini’s argument was that the pain is not the issue, that Khelifi is not eligible to compete in the women’s category. After exchanging a few sharp blows, Carini decided to end the fight, which is incredibly uncommon in Olympic boxing. The referee raised Khelif’s hand professionally, but Carini did not shake it. She fell to her knees in the ring and started crying.

Carini clarified that it wasn’t a planned action.

“I’m depressed by all of this controversy,” Carini remarked. “I also apologize to my opponent. .. I respect the IOC’s decision if it states that she may fight.

After the fight, Carini expressed regret for not shaking Khelif’s hand. 

Carini stated, “It wasn’t something I intended to do.” “I want to apologize to her and to everyone else, actually. I was furious because I had failed miserably at the Olympics. I have no personal grudges against Khelif. In fact, if I were to meet her again i would embrace her.

Begining of The controversies

Twenty-five-year-old Khelifi has been a professional boxer since 2018.Khelifi, who won gold at the 2022 African Championship, Mediterranean Games and the 2023 Arab Games, became the center of controversy in March last year.After being disqualified from the World Boxing Championship held in Delhi, the DNA test revealed that Khelifi had a male chromosome.The International Boxing Association announced the disqualification hours before the final between china’s young lee. IBA also took back the medal from  Lin Yu-ting who won bronze for the same reason.The IBA has been banned from organizing amateur boxing by the International Olympic Committee on June 2023 due to administrative issues. Then international Olympic committee(IOC) directly took charge of the running of the matches. Therefore IBA has no role in organizing boxing competition including Paris Olympics. Boxing competitions will be held this time as per the 2021 Tokyo Olympics rules. The IOC rules allow for gender diversity and variation in sexual characteristics, Therefore, Khelifi and Lin Yu-ting, who was banned by the IBA, is not disqualified from competing in Paris Olympics. Both qualified for the Olympics before the  IBA declared disqualification in 2023. Khelifi is the one who competed in the Tokyo Olympics and the fight did not last long. The Boxing Association is against Khelifi as the new controversy rages,But the IOC is sticking to their position. Ioc(international Olympic committee) explanation is that the passport is marked as woman and it is being considered still This argument has not been digested by many.

Prominents are in part of social media discussions

Khelif has received a barrage of hate mail online, with politicians, right-wing pundits, and well-known opponents of transgender people mispronouncing him as a male and using the matter to stoke the broader cultural conflict surrounding gender identity.

Elon Musk, JK Rowling, former US President Donald Trump, and social media influencer-turned-WWE wrestler Logan Paul have all voiced their opinions. Rowling amplified misconceptions about Khelif’s gender on X by writing, “Watch this then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment.”

Several sportsmen, like Irish boxer Amy Broadhurst, who faced and defeated Khelif at the World Championships, have submitted letters of support for Khelif. Before their 2022 match, Broadhurst shared a photo of the two on X with the caption, “Please, the hate has been ridiculous”.  Khelif’s triumph has been overshadowed by the controversy, which also poses a threat to her safety and privacy. For instance, there are several restrictions on her right to free speech in her native Algeria, where it is also illegal to be gay or transgender.

“Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics,” the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) said in a robust defense of its athlete.

It said, “The COA has taken all necessary precautions to protect our champion.”