After a controversial 46-second fight, the boxer who defeated an Olympian with a failed gender eligibility test speaks out.
Boxer, who defeated Olympian, sparks controversy over quick win amid gender eligibility debate
The fighter who beat Imane Khelif, amid controversy over a failed gender eligibility test, has now broken the silence about Khelif’s win
The brief fight involving Olympian, Imane Khelif, which lasted only 46 seconds, has ignited a debate.
Imane Khelif’s recent victory at the Paris Olympics has generated significant controversy.
The match, which lasted only 46 seconds, ended abruptly when Angela Carini withdrew from the bout. Carini’s headgear became dislodged twice, leading to her decision to abandon the fight. After Khelif was declared the winner, Carini refused to shake her opponent’s hand, adding to the tension surrounding the event.
The controversy sparked surrounding Imane Khelif’s failed gender eligibility
The controversy surrounding Khelif is partly due to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships over a gender eligibility test.
Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed her eligible to compete in the Olympics.
This decision has not been without its critics. Notably, Amy Broadhurst, a British fighter who defeated Khelif in 2022, expressed her views on social media.
Broadhurst suggested that Khelif’s situation was beyond her control and highlighted that Khelif had been defeated by other female competitors.
After defeating an Olympian amid controversy over gender eligibility, Imane Khelif faced criticism from fans.
However, British boxer Amy Broadhurst defeated Khelif in 2022.
Broadhurst, the 2022 IBA World Light-welterweight champion, had aspirations of competing in the Paris Olympics but was eliminated during the qualifying rounds.
Broadhurst recently addressed the ongoing debate regarding Khelif on Twitter.
On Twitter, she wrote:
“Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif. Personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’.
“I thinks it’s the way she was born & that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been [beaten] by 9 females before says it all.”
The post quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media.
In the comment selection, many viewers shared their thought about the winning of Khelif after she failed gender eligibility test.
One person said: Just because he was beaten doesn’t mean it’s right to let a biological male fight against women.
A second wrote: Only 5 KOs during her career, people just want to do politics on her.
While a third commented: Thanks you, she is a woman with high testostérone %
Another added: Thank you, finally someone talk in a good way on her, anyway she has a lot of pictures of her when she was a child.
Someone else said: She is really a women. And a good person.
Previously, Khelif was disqualified after being accused of having high testosterone levels.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) had previously disqualified Khelif due to elevated testosterone levels.
While, they have eligibility rules that bar athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events.
However, the IOC applies a different set of regulations, which ultimately allowed Khelif to participate.
Addionally, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams defended Khelif’s eligibility. He stated that all competitors in the women’s category met the necessary rules and were identified as female in their passports.
What did you think about this incident?