### Boxer with Gender Test Controversy Wins First Olympic Fight in Paris as Opponent Quits After 46 Seconds

### Boxer with Gender Test Controversy Wins First Olympic Fight in Paris as Opponent Quits After 46 Seconds

**By Greg Beacham | The Associated Press • Published August 1, 2024 • Updated on August 1, 2024, at 9:48 am** Imane Khelif of Algeria won her opening Olympic boxing bout on Thursday when her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, quit after just 46 seconds. Khelif, who was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test, has become a divisive figure at the Paris Olympics. There's no indication she identifies as transgender. The bout saw only a few exchanges before Carini abandoned the match, an unusual occurrence in Olympic boxing. Carini’s headgear became dislodged twice before she quit. After the decision was announced, Carini refused to shake Khelif's hand and cried in the ring before leaving. Carini later explained that she quit due to intense pain in her nose after the initial punches, denying that her actions were a political statement or a refusal to fight Khelif.

“I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match,” Carini said. Khelif, a silver medalist at the International Boxing Association's 2022 World Championships, entered the ring at North Paris Arena to cheers, but the crowd was confused by the bout's abrupt end. Khelif, who fights again on Saturday, did not speak to reporters. The controversy surrounding Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, who also faces scrutiny over gender eligibility, has intensified. The Algerian Olympic Committee condemned the "unethical targeting" of Khelif by some media outlets, while Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni criticized the decision to allow Khelif to compete, emphasizing the need to ensure fair competition. The IOC defended the eligibility of Khelif and Lin, stating that all competitors meet the required criteria and are recognized as female in their passports. Olympic boxing has reached gender parity for the first time, with 124 men and 124 women competing. The IOC is overseeing boxing at the Paris Olympics due to the suspension of the International Boxing Association (IBA) for governance issues. The IBA has appealed this decision but continues to criticize the IOC's handling of boxing eligibility.

As the debate continues, athletes and officials call for a focus on fairness and safety in combat sports, highlighting the complexity of gender eligibility in athletics.

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