Following the contentious bout between Angela Carini of Italy and Imane Khelif of Algeria, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed their eligibility and entry requirements for the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 boxing competition. Notably, on Thursday, August 1, Carini gave up on her welterweight match against Khelif after just 46 seconds.
The Olympics allowed a biological man, Imane Khelif, to fight as a woman despite his XY chromosomes. The end result?
“I have never been hit so hard in my life.”
Italian Olympian Angela Carini lasted 46 seconds before quitting due to how painful it was. It’s just shameful that… pic.twitter.com/OWhKggM7qe
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 1, 2024
Carini vs. Khelif Bout Highlights
The Algerian fighter struck Carini in the nose so hard that it even knocked her chinstrap off, causing her to bleed heavily. After a brief 30-second conversation with her coach, she gave up the game and disclosed that Khelif’s blows were the hardest she had ever received in her professional career.
For those who are unaware, Khelif did not pass the gender eligibility test at the World Championships in 2023. She failed to meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and was thus disqualified before her gold medal fight in New Delhi last year. Within the athletic community, there has been a furious outcry over the occurrence, with many criticizing the IOC’s qualifying standards.
Gender Eligibility Controversy
The supreme body has denounced the mistreatment of Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif in the wake of the controversy. The IOC said in a statement that the athletes’ age and gender are determined by their passports. Additionally, it disclosed that the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit developed its laws for Paris 2024 using the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline to ensure uniformity across the Olympic Games.
The IOC denounced the false information regarding two female boxers who were making the rounds in the media later in the statement. Additionally, it described their disqualification as an “arbitrary decision without any due process” in the 2023 IBA World Championships.
IOC’s Stance on Recent Incidents
In addition, the IOC stated that for boxing to be a part of the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 sports schedule, the National Boxing Federations need to agree on a new International Federation. Anyone can participate in sports without facing discrimination.
Every athlete competing in the Olympic boxing competition in Paris 2024 complies with all applicable medical guidelines established by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU), as well as the eligibility and entry requirements of the competition.
During the qualification period, these regulations also applied to the boxing competitions at the 2023 European, Asian, Pan American, and Pacific Games; the ad hoc African qualifying tournament in Dakar, Senegal; and the two world qualifying tournaments in Busto Arsizio, Italy, and Bangkok, Thailand, in 2024. These events included over 2,000 qualification bouts and 1,471 boxers representing 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), as well as the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes.
Uniformity in Boxing Regulations
The PBU developed its boxing regulations for Paris 2024 by taking inspiration from the Tokyo 2020 guidelines. This was done to provide uniformity between the Olympic Games and lessen the strain on competitors’ preparations. The post-Rio 2016 rules served as the foundation for these Tokyo 2020 guidelines.
Reports have presented false information regarding two female athletes who will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The two athletes have been participating in women’s international boxing competitions for a long time, competing in events sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the IBA World Championships, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Disqualifications and Procedural Issues
These two athletes were the victims of an impromptu and capricious IBA verdict. They were abruptly disqualified in 2023 near the end of the IBA World Championships without following the proper procedures.
The IBA Secretary General and CEO made this choice alone at first, according to the minutes that are accessible on their website. It was only later ratified by the IBA Board, which also asked that a protocol be developed and included in the IBA Regulations as a future course of action in circumstances similar to this one. The IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing,” according to the minutes.
Given that these athletes had been participating in top-tier competitions for a long time, the current hostility towards them is solely based on this arbitrary choice that was made without following the correct protocol. A strategy like this runs counter to sound governance. It is not suitable to alter eligibility requirements while a competition is already in progress. Any modifications to the rules must adhere to the proper procedures and be supported by empirical data.
Future of Boxing in the Olympics
Following the guidelines outlined in the Olympic Charter, IOC Code of Ethics, and IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights, the IOC is dedicated to defending the human rights of every athlete competing in the Olympic Games. The mistreatment that the two athletes are currently experiencing saddens the IOC.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 and withdrew its recognition in 2023. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) verified the withdrawal of recognition. View the statement issued by the IOC after the decision. For boxing to be a part of the Olympic Games LA28 sports schedule, the IOC has made it plain that National Boxing Federations must agree on a new International Federation.