The boxing world is enduring one of the most controversial moments in its history at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Angela Carini suddenly quit her bout against Imane Khelif after taking a hard blow to the face in the first round. The Round of 16 match lasted just 46 seconds before the Italian fighter called for her team to stop the fight. Khelif immediately won.
The controversy is rooted in Khelif’s failed gender and testosterone tests. The Algerian boxer had shown XY chromosomes, the typical setup for the male gender, during the 2023 World Championships.
Questions about Khelif’s gender identity and sexuality have ignited a firestorm due to the boxer’s inclusion at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Here’s more on Khelif, including the full fight video against Carini in Paris.
MORE: IOC releases statement on Imane Khelif, Lin Yu-ting
Angela Carini vs. Imane Khelif full fight video
Carini and Khelif fought in 66-kilogram weight class in the Round of 16 on Thursday, Aug. 1.
The fight lasted just 46 seconds as Carini surrendered after Khelif landed a punch in the first round.
🚨FULL MATCH🚨
Though the IOC is copyright-striking anyone who uploads the full match between Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Italy’s Angela Carini, Reduxx will preserve it here for as long as we can.
The IOC knew about Khelif. Carini should not have been put in danger like this. pic.twitter.com/ENfOIcYVO0
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) August 1, 2024
Carini called for her team to stop the fight after the blow, giving Khelif the win and advancement to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Why is Imane Khelif allowed to box at the Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee allowed Khelif to participate at the 2024 Olympics despite failing gender and testosterone tests in 2023.
Khelif’s tests showed XY chromosomes, which caused the disqualification. That said, the 25-year-old was born a female and does identify as transgender. The IOC reported that her passport lists her as a female and that Algerian laws are strict against LGBTQ+ rights.
I know this story has reached thermonuclear levels of BS and grift-fueled hate on here, but if anyone is actually interested in learning more about Imane Khelif, I found this helpful.https://t.co/J6hZ04fzkN pic.twitter.com/YPIHGleXYA
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) August 1, 2024
Although the XY chromosome setup is found in males, it’s possible, though rare, for this to be the case in females, too. The differences of sexual development (DSD) can put men and women into a box that doesn’t necessarily check either gender box.
It’s not confirmed that Khelif even has this condition. If she does have it, the extent of it is also undetermined as DSD can vary in many ways.
Khelif has been participating in female boxing competitions for multiple years, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics where she lost in the first round.
