Embattled Boxer Imane Khelif Accuses Female Opponent of ‘Smear Campaign’ After Backlash Over Failed Gender Test
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, has accused the Italian Olympic boxing team of trying to undermine her by withholding knowledge of her background. Her opponent, Italian box Angela Carini, withdrew from their match just 46 seconds in, claiming she had never been hit so hard before, raising questions about Khelif’s gender and strength. Critics argue Khelif, who has been involved in a gender controversy related to possessing XY chromosomes, has an unfair advantage in women’s boxing.
The International Boxing Association confirmed that both Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting tested positive for XY chromosomes, leading to significant scrutiny of their participation in female competitions. Khelif insisted that Italian officials were aware of her identity, having trained together for years.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach defended Khelif, emphasizing that she has lived and competed as a woman, challenging critics to provide a scientifically-founded definition of womanhood. The situation has sparked a broader debate on the implications of gender identity in women’s sports, particularly concerning athletes with differences in sex development (DSD). Despite Khelif’s assertions of her identity, concerns remain about the potential advantages that athletes with XY chromosomes may possess when competing against those with XX chromosomes.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif accused the Italian Olympic boxing team of “trying to weaken her” by failing to reveal they’ve known of the fighter for years.
Italian boxer Angela Carini pulled out of her opening round with Khelif just 46 seconds into their match last week after the Algerian hit her with such force, she was afraid if she continued with the fight she could face serious injury.
“I have never been hit so hard in my life,” Carini said.
The Olympics allowed a biological man, Imane Khelif, to fight as a woman despite his XY chromosomes. The end result?
“I have never been hit so hard in my life.”
Italian Olympian Angela Carini lasted 46 seconds before quitting due to how painful it was. It’s just shameful that… pic.twitter.com/OWhKggM7qe
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 1, 2024
Khelif has garnered intense criticism for appearing to be male, and according to the International Boxing Association, the athlete failed the chromosome test last year and therefore was not allowed to compete in the world championship tournament.
If a fighter failed chromosome tests for female boxing, that would presumably mean he has XY chromosomes as a man would.
🚨BREAKING: BOTH ‘FEMALE BOXING’ OLYMPIANS TESTED POSITIVE FOR XY CHROMOSOMES
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has confirmed that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting tested positive for XY chromosomes.
The athletes were offered a chance to… pic.twitter.com/1rhKwdmj1s
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 5, 2024
However, Khelif told SNTV regarding Carini, “The Italian boxer knows me well for years, as I have always gone to Italy to train as a member of the national team.”
“I trained with her and the coaches, who have known me since I was young. They used this campaign to try to weaken me,” the Algerian added.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach lashed out at critics of allowing fighters with both X and Y chromosomes to battle women, according to ESPN.
“Let’s be very clear here: We are talking about women’s boxing,” Bach said. “We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who have been raised a woman, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women. And this is the clear definition of a woman. There was never any doubt about them being a woman.”
“What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman,” he continued.
“And there I can only invite them to come up with a scientific-based new definition of who is a woman, and how can somebody being born, raised, competed and having a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman?” Bach questioned.
IOC President Thomas Bach responds to questions about the women’s boxing competition and makes it very clear there was never any doubt on the athletes being women, and that the current online abuse is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/Xvd6SvtmQ5
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 3, 2024
Multiple outlets reported that Khelif suffers from a rare medical condition known as “Differences of Sex Development.”
The Cleveland Clinic defines DSD as “conditions where a person’s reproductive organs and genitals are ‘mismatched’ at birth. Examples include male chromosomes (XY) and genitalia that appears female (vulva) or female chromosomes (XX) and genitalia that appears male (penis). Some people with DSDs have characteristics of both sexes.”
If Khelif has this condition that could explain why the female was the gender assigned at birth, based on genitalia.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also failed the International Boxing Association chromosomes test and is also a finalist in women’s Olympic boxing.
Regardless, given the obvious strength and muscle mass advantages, Khelif and boxers with XY chromosomes should not be competing with XX chromosome females.
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