People are demanding that Imane Khelif's next opponent is disqualified from fighting after posting some hateful messages towards the Algerian.
As you've probably seen, Italian boxer Angela Carini ended her highly anticipated match against Khelif after just 46 seconds.
The bout, initially scheduled for four rounds, took place on August 1 but was abruptly cut short when Carini withdrew less than a minute in, citing safety concerns, according to 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 Hungarian boxer slated to fight Khelif next, Anna Luca Hamori, has sparked controversy with her latest comments.
Hamori has intensified the controversy by sharing derogatory posts on her Instagram story, which have been widely condemned.
One particularly offensive image depicted a slim, "feminine" woman facing off against a muscular, 'masculine' figure with devil horns, seemingly suggesting Khelif is a beast.
Per the Mirror, Hamori further inflamed tensions by referring to Khelif as a "man" during an interview about her match preparations, stating: "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."
Fans have taken to social media to air their thoughts, with one person writing: "The Hungarian Luca Anna Hamori should be disqualified for her multiple harassment and hateful messages against Imane Khelif in her social media.
"This behavior goes against the rules of the International Olympic Committee."
A second person saw the images and wrote: "Imane Khelif’s next opponent, the hungarian luca hamori, posted this on her ig story… so vile and disgusting."
A third person wrote: "This is disgusting and Luca Hamori shouldn’t be allowed to compete."
Khelif is 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 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.”
