The recent quick victory of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif in just 46 seconds during the Olympic Games in Paris has sparked a heated debate regarding gender eligibility in sports. This discussion has attracted contributions from not only public figures but also sports organizations. Notably, Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her match against Khelif on Thursday, an unusual occurrence in Olympic boxing. Carini declined to shake Khelif’s hand as the referee raised her hand in victory. Overcome with emotion, she sank to her knees in the ring. A few minutes later, still in tears, she explained her withdrawal due to pain from the initial punches: “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough’ because I didn’t want to continue,” said Carini.

Khelif had been disqualified from the World Championships earlier this year after failing a gender eligibility test that lacked clear criteria. Her participation in the Paris Olympics has become a contentious subject. British author J.K. Rowling referred to Khelif as a “man” and criticized her for “enjoying the suffering of a woman he just defeated.” Rowling’s comments have previously sparked outrage among human rights activists in relation to transgender issues.

U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump also weighed in on the matter, posting on Truth Social: “I will keep men out of women’s sports.” His vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, added that “Kamala Harris’ ideas about gender” have led to “an adult man beating a woman in a boxing match.”

Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, expressed her opinion on social media platform X, stating that Carini “and other female athletes should not have been subjected to this physical and psychological violence based on their gender.” Algerian officials and others have shown support for Khelif, who has been the target of online attacks.

The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) condemned what they described as “malicious and unethical attacks against our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, from certain foreign media.” British politician Nadia Whittome also spoke out on X: “Imane Khelif was assigned female at birth. She has discussed how, in the beginning, she was forbidden to box by her father, who believed it wasn’t suitable for girls. The attacks against her show that transphobia harms not only transgender individuals but also other women who do not conform to conventional ideas of femininity.”

Khelif, who has competed in amateur tournaments for several years, is now under intense scrutiny regarding her performance in Paris, similar to Taiwanese athlete Lin Yu-ting. Lin, who won IBA World Championships in 2018 and 2022, had her bronze medal revoked earlier this year after it was announced that she did not meet specific requirements in a biochemical test.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that both athletes are eligible to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris and noted that “as with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passports.” The IOC also mentioned that there have been reports of misinformation surrounding the participation of two female athletes in the upcoming Olympic Games. The statement further indicated that the athletes are victims of a “sudden and arbitrary” decision by the IBA.

Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te publicly expressed support for Lin, writing on Facebook: “We must stand together and cheer for her.” Carini emphasized that she did not intend to make a political statement by withdrawing from her match against Khelif. Later, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Carini, sharing a photo of their meeting on Instagram, where she wrote: “I know you won’t give up, Angela, and I know one day you will win what you deserve through hard work and sweat in a competition that is finally equal.”

Khelif was met with great enthusiasm as she entered the North Paris Arena, partly because of the large Algerian diaspora in the French capital. She only briefly stopped to speak with reporters after her match, stating: “It’s always satisfying to win in such an important competition, but I remain focused on my goal of a medal.”