A boxer whose gender identity has recently come under scrutiny secured her first victory at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Imane Khelif of Algeria won against Italy’s Angela Carini after Carini withdrew just 46 seconds into the bout. Carini stopped the fight after a brief exchange of punches, refused to shake Khelif’s hand, and then broke down in tears on the floor.
Khelif’s participation in the Olympic women’s boxing events has faced recent criticism following reports that she and another competitor, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, did not pass gender eligibility tests at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi last year. At that time, officials claimed the boxers had failed an unspecified test due to having male chromosomes.
At 25, Khelif has always competed in women’s events, including the Tokyo Olympics, and there is no evidence suggesting she identifies as transgender or intersex, a term describing individuals with sex characteristics that do not fit typical male or female classifications.
Carini explained that she ended the fight on Thursday due to “severe pain” in her nose. She stated that she was not in a position to judge whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete.
“I’m not here to make judgments,” Carini told reporters after the match. “It’s not up to me to decide if an athlete’s situation is right or wrong.”
Others expressed their opinions more openly.
“We need to be cautious that in our efforts to avoid discrimination, we don’t end up discriminating against women,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said during a visit to the Olympic Village. “In these matters, dedication, mental strength, and character are important, but so is ensuring fairness.”
Several American politicians, including former President Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, also voiced their opinions on the fight.
“I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS!” Trump declared on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Khelif’s victory also elicited comments from high-profile individuals known for their controversial views on transgender issues.
J.K. Rowling, author of “Harry Potter,” repeatedly referred to Khelif as “male” and described the match as a “brutal injustice” in a series of posts on X.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who has faced backlash for his remarks about his estranged trans daughter, also commented on X. Responding to a post that included a video of the fight and stated, “Kamala supports this…vote accordingly,” Musk, who endorsed Trump last month, wrote: “True or let her deny it.”
Despite the predominantly critical responses online, Khelif did receive some support.
Ismaël Bennacer, a player for the Algerian national soccer team, defended Khelif amid the controversy.
“Full support for our champion Imane Khelif, who is facing unjustified hatred,” he posted on X. “Her presence at the Olympic Games is a testament to her talent and dedication.”
Khelif marked her victory on social media by posting a photo from Thursday’s fight on Instagram with the caption “first Victory.” She did not address the ongoing criticisms in her post, though she previously described her disqualification from last year’s World Championships as a “conspiracy.”
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the backlash against Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, as well as the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to disqualify them from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year.
“The current hostility towards these athletes stems from an arbitrary decision made without proper procedure, especially given their extensive experience in high-level competitions,” the IOC statement read. “Such actions are contrary to good governance.”
The IOC also mentioned that it had withdrawn its recognition of the IBA last year due to issues with governance, financial transparency, and alleged corruption.
Instead of the IBA, the IOC now uses the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, an ad-hoc body it established, to determine eligibility standards. The IOC stated, “As with previous Olympic boxing events, the athletes’ gender and age are based on their passports.”
The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee did not respond to inquiries about the criticisms of Khelif’s win.
Abderrahmane Hammad, Algeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, condemned the attacks on Khelif’s gender identity on Wednesday.
“I strongly denounce the unfounded attacks on our athlete Imane Khelif by certain foreign media,” he wrote on X. “Such cowardly efforts to damage her reputation are completely unacceptable.”
