The recent uproar surrounding the Olympics, particularly in relation to gender eligibility, has ignited a fierce debate on social media, encapsulated by the phrase “Shame On Olympics.” This controversy was sparked by the boxing match between Imane Khelif and Angela Carini, where Khelif’s victory led to widespread criticism regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who failed a gender eligibility test last year, defeated her Italian opponent in 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, as the issue threatened to overshadow the sixth day of competition.
It will also spark controversy over the admittance of participants from other sports at the Olympics and beyond who have completed similar eligibility tests. Angela Carini, distraught and heartbroken, refused Khelif’s attempts to shake her hand after which the Italian collapsed to her knees and sobbed explosively in the center of the ring.
This is just heartbreaking. Shame on the Olympics.
— Gina Carano 🕯 (@ginacarano) August 1, 2024
“None giusto!”.
“it’s not fair!” Says Angela breaking down in tears for something she worked so hard for. Her dream to compete on the Olympic stage shattered because it is not a fair competition.
💔
You are correct Angela!… https://t.co/c3k2MmSXAk
A boxing round lasts 3 minutes and there are three rounds in each but the Algerian boxer landed two strong punches, knocking Carini out in just 46 seconds. The Italian boxer was unable to stand after her nose was hit and began bleeding.
“I have a big pain in my nose and I said, ‘Stop’. It’s better to avoid keeping going. My nose started dripping (with blood) from the first hit,” said the distressed Carini.
Italy’s Prime Minister said “I think athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions. And not because you want to discriminate against someone, but to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms.”
“I was emotional yesterday when she wrote ‘I will fight’ because the dedication, the head, and the character, surely also play a role in these things. But then, it also matters to be able to compete on equal grounds and from my point of view it was not an even contest,” Ms Meloni added.
What Is The Controversy?
The International Olympic Committee has allowed two boxers who failed gender eligibility tests for the World Boxing Championships to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Algerian boxer Khelif was disqualified for high testosterone levels, while Taiwan’s double world champion Lin Yu-ting lost her bronze medal.
Umar Kremlev, Amateur Boxing President, told Russian news agency TASS, “DNA tests of two boxers proved they have XY chromosomes and were thus excluded.” XY is the male chromosome and XX is for females.
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, wrote on X that “Angela Carini rightly followed her instincts and prioritized her physical safety, but she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex.”
Key Points of the Controversy
- Imane Khelif’s Victory: The match between Khelif and Carini raised questions about the fairness of competition, particularly in light of Khelif’s gender identity and the eligibility criteria set by the Olympics. Critics argue that allowing transgender women to compete against cisgender women undermines the integrity of women’s sports.
- Social Media Reaction: The phrase “Shame On Olympics” has become a rallying cry among those who oppose the current policies regarding gender participation. Many users on platforms like Twitter have voiced their frustrations, calling for a ban on men competing in women’s categories. This sentiment reflects a broader concern about the implications of gender identity policies in competitive sports.
- Gender Eligibility Tests: The controversy is compounded by the complexities of gender eligibility tests that were implemented recently, which have not fully resolved the disputes surrounding fairness and equity in sports. This has led to calls for a reevaluation of policies to ensure that competition remains fair for all athletes.
I’ve been saying this for years; Men don’t belong in women’s sports, period.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) August 1, 2024
Watching what the IOC allowed to happen (the women beat the hell out of by men) in boxing is SHAMEFUL! Shame on the IOC for letting men compete in women’s boxing events! https://t.co/bWJ6mwaEoY pic.twitter.com/eak8KK2n6p
The IOC said the source of the prize money at the International Boxing Association was unclear and is one of the reasons why they withdrew its recognition of the IBA.
“The IBA was not prepared to transparently explain the sources of its financing or to explain its full financial dependency, at the time, on a single state-owned company, Gazprom,” IOC said.
The boxing competition at the Paris Olympics is being organised by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), an ad-hoc unit of the IOC’s Executive Board.
IOC spokesman, Mark Adams, said “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports and it’s stated in there that they are female.”
‘ Explain Why You’re Ok With A Man Beating A Woman’
The author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling, voiced her opinion on the gender row during the match and said, “Explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport. From the bullying cheat in red up to the organizer’s who allowed this to happen, this is men revelling in their power over women.”
Kirsty Burrows, the Head of the Safe Sport Unit at the IOC, in a press briefing, said, “Paris Olympics 2024 offers the most comprehensive package of mental health and safeguarding initiatives than any other Olympic or sporting event in history.”
A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini. https://t.co/JMKzVljpyr
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024
Ms Burrows’s comments were unrelated to the boxing match incident but Ms Rowling commented and said, “A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and Paris 24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini.”
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