A bomb to defuse. The world of boxing has been shaken. Since Thursday, boxer Imane Khelif has been at the center of debate after her uncontested victory in the round of 16 of the women’s Olympic boxing tournament against Angela Carini. The Italian gave up after only 46 seconds of combat. It is a rare thing in the world of amateur boxing. A defeat that has inflamed discussions. But also Italy and its government. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of the Interior, expressed his dismay on X.
“Our athlete had to withdraw against Imane Khelif before bursting into tears for so many sacrifices gone up in smoke. A truly un-Olympic scene: shame on these bureaucrats who allowed a match that was obviously not on equal terms,” he wrote after the victory of the Algerian, whom he describes as a “trans boxer.” In reality, Imane Khelif is hyperandrogenic. She has a high level of male hormones. Like Caster Semenya in athletics.
The IOC steps up to the plate.
Under these circumstances, the IOC broke its silence and decided to support the athlete suffering from “discrimination.” ” All athletes competing in the boxing tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games follow all applicable medical rules specified by the unit in charge of boxing for Paris 2024, as well as the rules of eligibility and registration for the sport. The Olympic Committee said in a statement, remembering that the Algerian has participated “for many years in international boxing competitions in the women’s category,” that the gender and age of athletes are decided on the basis of their passport, the same as in past Olympic boxing competitions.
Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit/IOC Statementhttps://t.co/22yVzxFuLd pic.twitter.com/fZvgsW8OOi
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 1, 2024
She missed the World Championships in New Delhi and was kicked out by the IBA (International Boxing Federation) in March 2023. The origin is? a mistake in the testing of hormonal eligibility. Her involvement in the Olympic Games thus represents a split between the IBA and the IOC, which might have negative effects on the next Olympics set for Los Angeles. “The IOC has obviously indicated that it needs the National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation for boxing to be included in the sports program of the LA28 Olympic Games.,” the Committee came to conclude.
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