The Paris Olympics is under fire after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced against Italian Boxer Angela Carini. The latter abandoned the fight within 46 seconds.
“I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match,” Carini stated.
Carini didn’t shake Khelif’s hand after the referee formally raised it, but she cried and fell on her knees in the ring. The Italian boxer had later announced that she quit because of the pain from those opening punches.
“I am heartbroken,” Carini said. “I went to the ring to honor my father. People often told me that I was a warrior, but I preferred to stop for my health. I had never felt an impact like that before. I have never felt a punch like this.”
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When asked whether Khelif should have been permitted to fight, she responded, “It was not up to me to judge. I did my job.”
The fight has sparked massive controversy because Imane Khelif failed the gender eligibility test last year.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is heavily criticized for the decision. The ending result brought negative reactions from viewers. Many even took to social media to vent their thoughts under the hashtag: #IStandWithAngelaCarini.
A man punching a woman in front of the world. Match lasted 45 secs before she abandoned with a suspected broken nose.
— Sabatino (@S_Andreoni) August 1, 2024
World is acting like that guy that hears the neighbor beating his wife and does nothing to help. #SHAMEFUL #Paris2024
#IStandWithAngelaCarini pic.twitter.com/CB9oKkkQrG
“A man punching a woman in front of the world. Match lasted 45 secs before she abandoned with a suspected broken nose,” one user posted.
The IOC has legitimized male violence against women as entertainment.
Get men out of women's sports.#IStandWithAngelaCarini who should never have been made to enter a boxing ring with Imane Khelif.#SaveWomensSports@Olympics @iocmedia @Marq pic.twitter.com/3PLxDmf4e0
— Genevieve Gluck (@WomenReadWomen) August 1, 2024
“The IOC has legitimized male violence against women as entertainment. Get men out of women’s sports.” Another posted.
Most Shameful moment in the history of Olympics
— Ans (@PakForeverIA) August 1, 2024
A man punching a woman in front of the world. Match lasted 45 secs before she abandoned with a suspected broken nose. #SHAMEFUL #Paris2024
#IStandWithAngelaCarinipic.twitter.com/i3xHD4nJD9
One user expressed their disgust by stating, “Most Shameful moment in the history of Olympics.”
As of this article’s writing, #IStandWithAngelaCarini is the 6th trending in Twitter/X with over 339 thousand posts. High-prolific names, such as J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, also openly condemn the Olympic committee for permitting Imane Khelif to compete in the competition.
Also read: Joanie Delgaco Ends Olympic Journey
UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem expressed deep concern about the fight. “Angela Carini rightly followed her instincts and prioritized her physical safety,” Alsalem stated. “she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also commented on the situation. “She and other female athletes should not face this physical and psychological violence because of their sex.” He even stated that it was not even a contest at that point.
The Algerian Olympic Committee issued a statement last Wednesday condemning the reactions. The statement describes how unethical and misaligned the “baseless propaganda” against Imane Khelif is.
Due to the growing controversy, investigators have uncovered more facts about the Algerian boxer. Khelif is biologically female. However, she has hyperandrogenism, a condition marked by unusually high levels of androgens in the blood. This condition leads to elevated testosterone and the presence of XY chromosomes.
“Contrary to circulating reports, Algerian athlete Imane Khelif is not a trans woman,” Gaynet Communications association president Rosario Coco clarified. “Based on our information, she is an intersex person who has always identified and socialized as a woman and has a history of competing in women’s sports.”
The discussion about the matter is still ongoing. Hungarian boxer Luca Anna Hamori will face Khelif in the next round.
“I will go to the ring, and I will get my win,”. “I trust my coaches, and I trust myself.”
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