Imane Khelif’s first fight will do nothing to calm the controversy around the boxer’s entrance into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Khelif, who failed gender eligibility tests at the 2023 World Championships, forced her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, to withdraw from their opening-round bout in 46 seconds on Thursday.
A furious Carini was left in tears and retreated to her corner after getting hit twice in the face by Khelif.
Carini refused a handshake from Khelif and then ripped her hand away from the ref as Khelif’s was raised as the winner.
“I’m used to suffering,” Carini said after the fight when she spoke to reporters for 20 minutes through tears. “I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal.
“I got into the ring to fight. But I didn’t feel like it anymore after the first minute. I started to feel a strong pain in my nose. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m leaving with my head held high.”
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How do you feel about transgender athletes competing in sports categories that match their gender identity, especially in contact sports?
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Should personal feelings and safety concerns justify an athlete's decision to withdraw from a competition against a transgender opponent?
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Is there a place for gender-based divisions in sports, and how should these divisions adapt to include transgender athletes fairly?
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What does sportsmanship look like in the context of controversial matches, and how should opponents show respect to each other, despite personal misgivings?
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Should sports organizations have the authority to decide who is eligible to compete in women's events, and what criteria should they use?
