Imane Khelif, Alleged Biological Male, Wins Olympic Fight in Women’s Division
On Wednesday, Algeria’s Imane Khelif, allegedly a biological male, defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. Just 46 seconds into the fight, Carini forfeited. After Khelif was declared the winner, Carini retreated to her corner of the ring and cried.
The incident has ignited a storm of controversy, raising serious questions about the future of women’s sports. (READ MORE: The Paris Olympics Aren’t Representative of the France I Know)
After the match, Carini said, “I have never been hit so hard in my life…. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I go out with my head held high.”
Speculation on Khelif’s Gender Abounds
Khelif’s victory is being overshadowed by questions about the boxer’s gender. She has not commented on the issue yet, but there is speculation that she may have a sexual development disorder, a rare condition affecting less than 1 percent of the population.
The speculation began last year when Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from competing in the 2023 World Championships. The IBA said Khleif failed “to meet the IBA eligibility criteria” after failing a gender eligibility test.
Algerian media reported that she was disqualified for having elevated levels of testosterone.
However, the president of the IBA, Umar Kremlev, told Tass News:
Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women… According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition.
Along with Khelif, the Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu‑ting was disqualified from the 2023 world championships.
Khelif repeatedly claimed that the accusations were a conspiracy on social media. Lin did not comment publicly on the disqualification.
The IBA’s decision to disqualify Khelif and Lin sparked outrage and prompted a reevaluation of gender eligibility rules on a larger scale. (WATCH: The Spectator P.M. Podcast Ep. 63: Don’t Believe Them. The Drag Queens at the Olympics Were Mocking Christianity)
As a result, in 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew recognition from the IBA and its eligibility criteria. Instead, the IOC created the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit to manage eligibility requirements.
Now, despite their previous disqualification, both boxers are currently competing as women in the Paris Olympics.
The Olympics Stands at a Crossroads
On Tuesday, the IOC reaffirmed this policy change. They stated that “all athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations.”
On the other hand, many celebrities have publicly condemned the IOC’s decision.
For example, J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter wrote on X:
“Someone with a [sexual development disorder] cannot help the way they were born but they can choose not to cheat; they can choose not to take medals from women; they can choose not to cause injury.”
Khelif’s victory underscores the unique challenges facing women’s sports. As pressure mounts from all sides, the Olympics stand at a crucial crossroads. It must consider all possibilities including women with naturally higher levels of testosterone, sexual development disorders, and men seeking to exploit their biological advantages. (READ MORE: We’ll Never Have Paris)
The world’s greatest sporting stage must strike a careful balance of inclusivity, fairness, and safety.
Failure to do so may irreparably damage the integrity of women’s sports.
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