Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's swift 46-second victory over Italy’s Angela Carini has ignited a fierce debate over gender eligibility rules in women's sports with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vocally opposing the fight's legitimacy, asserting that it was “not on an equal footing.”
In remarks made during a meeting with Italian athletes in Paris, Meloni stated, “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions.”
Following the match, Meloni expressed her support for Carini in a post on X, declaring, “I know that you won't give up Angela, and I know that one day you will get what you deserve through strength and sweat. In a competition that is finally equal.”
Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships due to failure to meet gender eligibility criteria set by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
However, the IBA clarified that the athletes were not subjected to testosterone examinations, but instead faced a separate, confidential assessment.
They justified their swift disqualification by stressing the priority of safety for their boxers.
In stark contrast, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled Khelif eligible to compete in the women’s division in Paris, deeming the IBA's decision arbitrary and lacking due process.
“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC stated, condemning the lack of fairness in their treatment.
The match ended dramatically when Carini retired due to injury after suffering a barrage of punches from Khelif, collapsing to her knees in tears. This scene prompted widespread outrage on social media.
High-profile figures have weighed in on the controversy.
Former US President Donald Trump asserted on his Truth Social platform, “I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS!” Tennis icon Martina Navratilova condemned the situation as “deplorable,” alleging Khelif was a “biological man.”
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, also voiced her concerns, stating that Carini and other female athletes “should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex.”
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