THERE had been plenty of room in the press seats at the Paris Nord Arena – until today.
Reporters squeezed in to watch what would happen when Algeria’s Imane Khelif met Angela Carini (Italy) at 66kgs.
Khelif had been disqualified before the Women’s World Championship final in New Delhi last year after failing to meet the eligibility criteria of the International Boxing Association, along with Lin Yu-Ting, also cleared to box in Paris and in action on Friday.
Tests undertaken by the boxers were not for elevated testosterone as first understood.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), released a statement this week which stated: “The athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test, whereby the specifics remain confidential.
“This test conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.”
The IBA did say at the time that the chromosome tests of both Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting came back as XY.
Women typically have two X chromosomes, while men typically have an X and Y chromosome.
Khelif responded by saying the results were part of “a big conspiracy” and it should be remembered that IBA have been banned from running Olympic boxing by the International Olympic Committee after investigations revealed corruption.
Khelif made an appeal against IBA’s ruling and later withdrew it.
Sources claim doctors have said the 25-year-old has a disorder of sex development (DSD) which can cause women to have XY chromosomes and the same testosterone levels as males.
South African runner, Caster Semenya, who won 800 metres gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, had a similar condition.
Semenya was controversially forced to take drugs like the contraceptive pill to lower her testosterone levels.
Khelif and Yu-Ting are both competing in their second Olympics.
Irish Olympic gold medallist, Kellie Harrington, outpointed Khelif in the quarter finals in Tokyo at 60kgs three years ago, while Yu-Ting lost her opening contest to Nesthy Petecio.
The Tokyo Olympics were managed by the IOC after IBA were banned and the IOC have appointed the Paris Boxing Unit to run this year’s Olympics.
Both the IOC and PBU have been convinced Khelif and Yu-Ting should be allowed to box as women.
Neither Khelif or Yu-Ting identify as transgender, that is they were born as women and identify as women.
Watching the bout between Kehlif and Carini unfold in front of me was puzzling.
The first time Khelif connected with a left, Carini turned to her corner and had the chin strap on her headguard readjusted.
Seconds after the bout restarted, Carini reacted the same way to a clean punch and the bout was waved off inside 46 seconds.
At the time, it appeared Carini was protesting against Khelif’s inclusion.
She refused Khelif’s handshake, then sank to her knees and sobbed before ignoring Khelif when she parted the ropes for her as they left the ring.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 01: Imane Khelif of Team Algeria looks as Angela Carini of Team Italy leaves the ring after abandoning their Women’s 66kg preliminary round match in the first round on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at North Paris Arena on August 01, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Carini sobbed throughout her post-bout interview and explained she had never been hit as hard.
“After the second blow to the nose, I couldn’t breathe anymore. I went to my coach and said: ‘Enough’ because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn’t feel like fighting anymore.
“I wasn’t able to finish the match.
“I felt a strong pain in my nose and I said to myself that for the experience I have and the maturity as a woman that I have, that I would stop.
“It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.”
Former opponents of Khelif have differing opinions.
Amy Broadhurst, who outpointed her in 2022, said: “I don’t think she’s done anything to ‘cheat.’
“I think it’s the way she was born and that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been beaten by nine females before says it all.”
Brianda Tamara, stopped by Khelif in three rounds a couple of years ago, said: “I don’t think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men.”