Algerian welterweight boxer Imane Khelif has shared a heartfelt message with the world regarding her gender after her victory against Angela Carini was called into question.
Imane Khelif's controversial fight against Angela Carini, who wihdhrew after 46 seconds:As previously reported, 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.
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.'"
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has defended Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting’s participation in the games, dismissing concerns about their gender identity as “totally unacceptable.”
Khelif secured an Olympic medal on Saturday after defeating Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori in a unanimous decision, with strong support from her fans. Khelif’s victory guarantees her at least a bronze medal.
In an emotional interview after her victory, Khelif, wrapped in an Algerian flag, dedicated her win to her supporters and declared via NBC, “I am a female, and I will remain a female.”
Her supporters chanted her name and waved Algerian flags throughout the match. All five judges scored each round in her favor, with one judge awarding a 10-8 score in the second round.
Despite prior remarks from Hamori questioning Khelif’s gender, the two athletes exchanged pleasantries post-match. Thomas Bach criticized the backlash against Khelif and Yu-ting as "hate speech," emphasizing their long-standing recognition as female athletes.
The controversy around Khelif and Yu-ting’s gender identity began after their disqualification from a global event last year, but they were cleared by the IOC for the Paris Games in the women’s 66-kilogram and 57-kilogram categories.
The situation escalated when Italian boxer Angela Carini quit 46 seconds into her match with Khelif, refusing to shake hands afterward and citing "severe pain" in her nose. Carini stated she was not in a position to decide on Khelif’s eligibility.
Notably, J.K. Rowling and former President Donald Trump criticized the decision to allow Khelif to compete, with Rowling accusing the IOC of failing to protect female athletes.
In contrast, supporters like Algeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderrahmane Hammad, condemned the attacks on Khelif as attempts to tarnish her reputation.
Khelif’s father, Amar, defended his daughter, stating, “She made us proud many times... these critics aim to destabilize her, but she is a champion.” Other supporters, including Ismaël Bennacer and the National Black Justice Coalition, stood by Khelif, emphasizing her right to compete.
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