The internet has erupted over the latest Olympics controversy: Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned her fight against Algerian opponent Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into their match. The shocking moment, which included Carini breaking down in tears inside the ring, is further igniting controversy over allowing biological men to compete in female sports. But at this point, it’s unclear if this match definitively meets those criteria. Khelif, whom media outlets have said was “deemed to have male chromosomes” — is allegedly one of two boxers competing at the Olympic games this year who previously failed gender eligibility tests and, as a result, were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships. However, Khelif reportedly doesn’t identify as transgender. Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, the second boxer to have purportedly failed gender eligibility tests, also hasn’t embraced the label. The controversy of their gender has swept over the sport since last year, when the two were both disqualified from the World Championships in New Delhi after they were on track to win medals but failed an eligibility test.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), who organise the World Championships, said at the time that athletes who “pretended to be women” were excluded based on tests that showed “they have XY chromosomes.” Women typically have XX chromosome pairs, and men have XY pairs. Neither Khelif nor Lin have ever identified as men, as transgender, or as intersex—which refers to people with both male and female sex characteristics. The IBA has released a statement addressing the situation surrounding both Khelif and Yu-ting. “On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships” it read. “This disqualification was a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as laid out in the IBA Regulations. This decision, made after a meticulous review, was necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.” The IBA went on to say the athletes didn’t undergo a testosterone exam but went through “a separate and recognized test” with specifics that “remain confidential.”
That test, found the individuals “did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.” Though many have claimed the battle between Carini and Khelif was a match between a woman and a “man” and was, thus, imbalanced and unfair, some, have speculated the issue at play could involve a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), something described as “a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs, including genitals.” But, again, these details are speculative and unconfirmed. Video of the fight between Carini and Khelif has only fuelled furore and accusations. With the fight lasting under a minute, Carini could be seen kneeling down in tears, giving up before she could sustain another blow to the face. At one point, she reportedly said, “This is unjust.” In a post-match interview, Carini stated her reasons for stepping out of the competition. “I have never been hit so hard in my life,” she said. “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ I couldn’t finish the match.”
Her coach, Emanuel Renzini, confirmed she was in pain and added that some had warned her not to fight Khelif. “I don’t know if her nose is broken,” Renzini said. “But many people in Italy tried to call and tell her: “Don’t go, please: it’s a man, it’s dangerous for you.” Outrage, shock, frustration, and heartbreak overtook social media, with claims being made about the fighter’s gender that have not yet been substantiated. Former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines, who has warned in recent days that women face injury or death as a result of allowing biologically male fighters to compete, was among those speaking out. “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” she posted on X. And Gaines wasn’t done there. “After 46 seconds and a few hits to the face by a male, Carini forfeited the fight,” she wrote in a separate post. This is glorified male violence against women.” “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling said a female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because a male was allowed to get into the ring with her. “It’s a disgrace.”
Source: Faithwire
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