Following the controversy around women's boxing at the Olympics, what are the facts around the matter?
As you might have seen, Italian boxer Angela Carini ended her highly anticipated match against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif after just 46 seconds.
The bout, which took place on August 1, was initially scheduled for four rounds but was abruptly cut short when Carini decided to withdraw less than one minute in, citing safety concerns, per Sky Sports News.
Carini, a 25-year-old welterweight, struggled to continue after her headgear was dislodged twice during the brief encounter with Khelif.
Visibly distressed and potentially suffering from a broken nose, Carini declined to shake hands with Khelif and wept on the canvas.
Her coach supported her decision, confirming: "She felt pain in her nose and said to me, 'I don't want to fight anymore.'"
The fight has been shrouded in controversy, with Khelif standing at 5ft 10 and being one of two female boxers allowed to compete after disqualification from last year's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi for failing to meet the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility criteria.
These criteria prohibit athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events, as reported by the Independent.
Similarly, Taiwan’s double-world champion Lin Yu-ting lost her bronze medal at the same competition due to the same eligibility issues.
Following governance and finance controversies, the IBA was stripped of its recognition by the IOC last year.
Consequently, the IOC took over the organization of the boxing competition in Paris, allowing both Khelif and Lin to participate.
The nature of Carini’s defeat has sparked concern and anger within and outside the boxing community.
Author JK Rowling and billionaire Elon Musk have voiced their opposition to Khelif and Lin competing in the Games.
However, the IOC defended the athletes, stating they faced "aggression" due to an "arbitrary decision" by the IBA.
“Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process,” the IOC stated.
“According to the IBA minutes available on their website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO.”
In sports, there are varying regulations regarding testosterone levels for athletes in women's competitions.
Some sports have stringent testosterone limits, while others ban all athletes who have undergone male puberty.
Differences in sex development (DSDs) are rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs.
Some individuals with DSDs are raised as females but have XY chromosomes and testosterone levels within the male range.
The IOC emphasized that the eligibility rules were based on those used during the Tokyo Games in 2021 and cannot be altered during a competition, per NBC.
“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure, especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.
"The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving,” the committee added. “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
In response, the IBA criticized the "inconsistencies in eligibility" at the Paris Games.
“Both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting post testing, did not meet the required eligibility criteria to compete within the female category of our respective events,” the body stated.
“The urgent nature of the decision (to disqualify the boxers) was justified, as the safety of our boxers is our top priority.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Carini offered her apologies to Khelif for the wave of hatred the Algerian had received online.
"All this controversy makes me sad," Carini told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited by BBC News.
"I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision."
