Donald Trump has entered the debate over Olympic boxing gender eligibility following a controversial match between Imane Khelif and Angela Carini. Critics question the IOC’s rules, while Trump vows to exclude men from women's sports. The fight's abrupt end has intensified discussions on gender and fairness in athletics.
The Olympic boxing match between Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Italy's Angela Carini has sparked controversy and political debate. The bout, which took place on August 1, 2024, ended abruptly with Carini, 25, retreating and declaring, "This is unjust," after just under a minute of fighting. Carini cited severe physical distress as the reason for her decision to stop the fight, expressing deep regret and concern for her health.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has faced criticism for allowing Khelif to compete despite prior disqualification by the International Boxing Association (IBA) over gender eligibility issues. The IBA had barred Khelif from their world championships last year following allegations of failing gender verification tests.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in on the controversy, using the incident to bolster his stance on excluding transgender women from female sports categories. Trump shared a video of the fight on social media, promising to "keep men out of women's sports."
The IOC has defended its position, asserting that all athletes competing under their rules are compliant with gender eligibility standards. Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson, stated that "everyone competing in the women's category is complying with the competition eligibility rules."
Reactions online have been polarized. Some support Trump's stance, while others, including UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem, criticize the exposure of female athletes to perceived unfair competition and violence.
