The upcoming challenger of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has voiced her thoughts following the abrupt end of the match against Italian boxer Angela Carini, who exited the ring after merely 46 seconds.
Khelif had earlier failed a ‘gender eligibility test’ conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The IBA has not played a role in verifying the eligibility of athletes for the Olympics since being stripped of its status as the sport’s global governing body by the International Olympic Committee in 2023. The BBC reported it was due to ‘governance issues and alleged corruption.’
The ambiguous test conducted by the now-discredited sporting organization asserted that Khelif had XY chromosomes, which are usually linked to males, and exhibited elevated testosterone levels.
Khelif had previously participated in multiple women’s boxing competitions and is currently competing in the Olympics.
Her bout against Italy’s Angela Carini concluded after only 46 seconds when Carini forfeited, later stating: “I went into the ring to fight. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough.
“I’m leaving with my head held high.”
Now, Khelif’s subsequent opponent in the games has spoken out amid a flurry of conjecture surrounding the boxer.
As she readies herself to confront Khelif in the women’s welterweight category, Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori remarked: “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.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee has denounced the controversy enveloping the athlete, describing it as a series of “malicious and unethical attacks directed against our distinguished athlete, Imane Khelif, by certain foreign media.”
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting was similarly disqualified by the IBA after failing to comply with criteria from an unspecified gender test.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has urged support for the country’s athlete, stating: “we should stand united and cheer for her.”
“As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.
“We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.”