Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has criticized the fairness of the Paris Olympics match between Italy’s Angela Carini and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who was found to have male chromosomes.
The match ended abruptly after Carini, overwhelmed by Khelif’s punches, abandoned the fight just 46 seconds in.
Following two powerful blows to the face, one of which forced her to adjust her headgear, Carini decided she could not continue. Meloni voiced her concerns about the integrity of the competition afterward.
“I believe athletes with male genetic characteristics should not be allowed to compete in women’s events,” Meloni stated, via The Telegraph. “This is not about discrimination, but about protecting the rights of female athletes to compete on equal terms. I regret Carini’s withdrawal even more. I was moved when she wrote ‘I will fight,’ because dedication, mental strength, and character play significant roles in these competitions. However, it’s crucial to compete on equal grounds, and from my perspective, it was not an even contest.”
Carini, visibly emotional, addressed the situation after the fight, expressing her sense of injustice. “I entered the ring to fight,” she said through Italy’s ANSA. “I didn’t give up, but the pain from one punch was too much, and I decided enough was enough. I’m walking away with my head held high.”
Emanuele Renzini, Carini’s coach, clarified that quitting was not pre-planned. “It would have been easier not to show up, as many in Italy had advised against it for days,” Renzini explained. “But Angela was motivated and determined to compete. When she saw her opponent at the draw, she said ‘it’s not fair,’ but there was no premeditation. She quit after one punch because she felt she couldn’t continue.”
RELATED: ESPN Host Sounds Off On Transgender Boxer At Summer Olympics
Khelif’s participation was already controversial due to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing to meet gender eligibility standards. IBA President Umar Kremlev, via Russia’s Tass News Agency, explained the decision, noting that Khelif had high testosterone levels and XY chromosomes.
“Based on DNA tests, we identified athletes who tried to deceive their colleagues by posing as women. The tests proved they have XY chromosomes, and such athletes were excluded from competition,” Kremlev said.
Both Khelif and the Algerian Olympic Committee denied these claims, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared Khelif to compete in the Games. The IBA, however, released a statement reaffirming their stance.
“On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023,” the statement read. “This decision was based on their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for women’s competition, as outlined in IBA Regulations. This thorough review was vital to maintaining fairness and integrity in the competition. The athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a recognized test, the specifics of which remain confidential. The test conclusively indicated that both athletes had competitive advantages over other female competitors.”
The IBA also criticized the IOC for allowing Khelif and Lin to compete, stating, “Our Committees rigorously reviewed and endorsed the decision made during the World Championships. While IBA is committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all our events, we express concern over the inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by other sporting organizations, including those overseeing the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing regulations raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athlete safety.”
This controversy highlights the ongoing debate about gender eligibility in sports, raising questions about fairness, integrity, and the criteria used by different organizations to determine eligibility for female athletes.
