Paris Olympics | Gender policy sets tongues wagging

It seems controversy is never too far when it comes to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

One of the latest being the gender policy in boxing after Italian boxer, Angela Carini, abandoned her Olympic bout against Algeria’s Imane Khelif inside 46 seconds.

Carini sparked discussion on whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete over the previous failure to pass a gender eligibility test after crying in the ring – while on her knees.

Khelif is one of two athletes who were cleared to compete in the women’s boxing in Paris after they were disqualified from the 2023 women’s world championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria from the now-banned International Boxing Association.

Carini, who entered the competition aiming for a medal to honour her late father and coach who died shortly after she participated in the Tokyo Games three years ago, has now apologised to 25-year-old Khelif for how she handled the moments after the fight.

The Italian boxer says while she doesn’t regret abandoning the match, she feels bad for not shaking hands with Khelif after the bout.

Following the bout on Wednesday, social media has been abuzz with many different views on this matter.

The International Olympic Committee’s Mark Adams has, however, defended the athlete’s right to compete, saying contenders like her are real people too.

 

Algeria’s Olympic Committee (COA) has condemned the comments made, saying they’re “malicious and unethical attacks directed against a distinguished athlete.”

Social media has also been abuzz over this matter, with celebrities weighing in.

World renowned author, JK Rowling, is one of those who added their voices to the ongoing controversy.

The Harry Potter author says the Paris Olympics are a disgrace.

The idea that those objecting to a male punching a female in the name of sport are objecting because they believe Khelif to be ‘trans’ is a joke. We object because we saw a male punching a female. https://t.co/KSAM5RCl1S

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 2, 2024

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, also slammed the Paris Olympics.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemns the Paris Olympics for letting a biological male pummel an Italian female:

“Athletes with masculine attributes should not be authorized in women’s competitions.”pic.twitter.com/GuZGXbgtxH

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) August 1, 2024

Donald Trump says he will ban biological males from competing in women’s sports.

Good https://t.co/b0kOXKFE8p

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 1, 2024

Tomorrow one more woman is going to be a victim of abuse in Olympics at the hands of this man who pretends to be a woman and people will be cheering for this. This time it’s going to be Anna Luca Hamori from Hungary who will be the victim. pic.twitter.com/o6yo8BIRF9

— The Supreme Consciousness (@realcvrane) August 2, 2024

However, some people have come out to support Khelif, with others likening what she’s going through to what South Africa’s Caster Semenya.

This was what Caster Semanya of South Africa went through years back. The court of public opinion or kangaroo courts chastised and humiliated her all because she was a WOMAN!
Go strong Imane Khelif. Go and win. If they cannot fight, they should not be in the ring! #Paris2024

— Ali Ceessay © (@sir_cas) August 2, 2024

The Algerian boxer was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport. What’s the controversy. Macrons wife looks like a man but he married her.
#Imane_Khelif

— Maradona (@panjerianreds) August 2, 2024

Imagine being a North African woman overcoming countless social and political obstacles – especially rigid gender norms – to make it to the Olympics, only to have an incoherent right-wing mob try to force those same norms on you. Solidarity with Imane Khelif

— Nada Elfeituri (@NElfeituri) August 2, 2024

Men should not be competing against women in sports. There must be clarity on that.

Imane Khelif may or may not be intersex — a condition that exists, though most people do not know much about it. We will all learn more.

Meanwhile, Imane is a human being. Treat her as such.

— Stephen Simpson ProperGander (@BamaStephen) August 2, 2024

Khelif is set to take on Hungarian, Anna Luca Hamori, on Saturday and her rival seems prepared to rumble.

“I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”

“I want to get a medal from the Olympic Games. So I don’t care about anything. I will go to the ring and I will get my win”

Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori says she is looking forward to taking on Imane Khelif. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/ZMJYd4f8rb

— Rilzy007 (@rilzy007) August 2, 2024

On other boxing matters, Tawain’s Lin Yu-ting won her opening match in the women’s 57kg category amid the gender row.

Top seed Lin, who lost her bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships after failing to meet gender eligibility criteria, beat Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova to reach the quarterfinals.

World Athletics president, Lord Sebastian Coe, says clarity is needed around gender eligibility policy.