Italian boxer skips bout, over gender issue at Olympics

Global (Commonwealth) _After only 46 seconds of competition, an Italian boxer at the Paris Olympics withdrew from her fight, citing a powerful hit from an Algerian opponent who had been banned from the world championships the previous year due to eligibility issues in women’s sports.

After receiving a strong shot to the face from her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew. After pausing briefly, Carini turned to face Khelif and proceeded to her corner. Her trainers sent a swift indication that she would not continue, and the battle was broken up by the referee.
Boxing officials had forbidden Khelif, 25, from competing in women’s events last year, citing her lack of eligibility. Despite this, she was allowed to fight at the Olympics. Lin Yu-ting, an athlete who was similarly disqualified from the global championships the previous year, has also been given the go-ahead to compete in Paris.

The boxers’ disqualifications were ordered by the International Boxing Association, which oversaw the championships and provided little explanation for their removal. In a statement, the organization stated that the boxers were disqualified because “the athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognized test.”

According to the organization, the test results—which it claimed were private—clearly showed that neither athlete satisfied the prerequisite qualifying requirements nor that she had an unfair competitive edge over other female rivals.

The International Olympic Committee, which is in charge of overseeing the boxing competition at the Paris Games, is working under the same set of regulations that the boxing organization approved for the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, the I.O.C. acknowledged that aside from a single sentence that reads, “Gender tests may be conducted,” those regulations contain no information concerning testosterone or limitations on gender eligibility.

The inclusion of two boxers in the women’s Olympic tournament who have been the subject of eligibility disputes has emerged as the most recent hotspot in the contentious political discussion around gender equality and fair play in sports.

The boxing competition’s governing body, the International Olympic Committee, declared that Khelif and Lin’s disqualifications at the 2023 world championships were “sudden and arbitrary” and that their ability to compete in Paris was upheld.

The I.O.C. said, “Everyone has the right to practice sport without discrimination.” After it was declared that Carini had lost, she refused to shake hands with Khelif and collapsed to the floor in tears.

She then told reporters, “I am heartbroken.” I was often informed that I was a fighter, but I chose to stop for my health. “I went to the ring to honor my father.” This is the strongest punch I have ever felt. “I entered the ring to fight,” she said. I persisted. However, one blow hurt too much, so I gave up. I’m leaving with a proud demeanor.

Carini refused to comment on whether Khelif ought to have been let to take part. She remarked, “I am not the person to judge this match.” “I’m not the official.” Strong emotions followed Thursday’s forfeit in Italy, where Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, dubbed the battle “a match that seemed out of balance.” She told reporters, “Athletes with male genetic traits should not be allowed to compete in female competitions.”

In an interview, professional boxer Claressa Shields—who made history in 2012 by being the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal—stated that she had no memory of being tested for testosterone during her amateur career. She suggested there should be open testing procedures and that women with naturally high testosterone levels shouldn’t be penalized.

Shields argued, “We can’t punish a woman for having something that other women don’t have by nature.” That would be like to announcing, “Oh, we’re going to put her in the men’s division because she’s too powerful to be at this weight and is knocking everyone out. There must be some logical facts.

These athletes are classified as legally female, or intersex, since they have testicles or ambiguous genitalia, typical male X and Y chromosomal patterns, naturally occurring testosterone levels in the male range, and normal male responses to testosterone.

According to Mr. Adams, Khelif and Lin’s passports show that they both identify as female. Despite growing doubts over the two boxers’ attendance, the IOC stated that both competitors were approved to compete in the Olympic competition.

According to Mr. Adams, “everyone competing in the women’s category is adhering to the competition eligibility rules.” Women’s Olympic athletes started undergoing sex tests in 1968, and the IOC decided to stop the practice in 1999.