The Paris Olympics 2024 are already being criticized for their controversial opening ceremony. And now, after Imane Khelif’s win over Angela Carini, the situation has only gotten worse. The Algerian boxer reportedly failed the IBA’s gender test at the women’s world boxing championship. However, the IOC recently issued a statement to address the backlash.
Boxing journalist Michael Benson shared the IOC’s response to Khelif’s controversial win. An excerpt from the statement read, “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on an arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure.”
France Olympic will forever be remembered as a disgrace to the world of sports
— Kem-maka 🥊 (@May_twenty3rd) August 1, 2024
The IOC’s statement also stated that according to the IBA minutes, the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing.” Moreover, the statement acknowledged that the two boxers had previously participated in international boxing competitions and complied with the rules the Olympics follow.
Fans Infuriated After IOC’s Response On Imane Khelif’s Controversial Paris Olympics 2024 Win Over Angela Carini
After Kehlif’s win against Carini in 46 seconds, fans and other combat sports athletes like Israel Adesanya expressed their discomfort. They questioned the eligibility of Algerian boxers and questioned the legitimacy of the rules at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Now that the IOC came up with an explanation, it infuriated fans even more. After Benson shared the statement on X, fans jumped into the comment section with multiple reactions. One of the fans wrote, “France Olympic will forever be remembered as a disgrace to the world of sports”
France Olympic will forever be remembered as a disgrace to the world of sports
— Kem-maka 🥊 (@May_twenty3rd) August 1, 2024
While another fan hoped that nothing would happen to women boxers fighting against Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting.
Well lets hope nothing happense to those who compete against those two. Else sue IOC into oblivion. Bunch of arbitary semantics they are willing to put women in harm
— DLibryum (@DLibryum) August 1, 2024
Earlier in March 2023, the IBA barred Khelif from participating in the women’s boxing championship in New Delhi, India. According to a report by Reuters, the decision came after Khelif’s systems had XY chromosomes. A fan explained the entire science behind it in a long text comment and questioned the IOC for allowing the Algerian boxer to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024.
It was nothing to do with the arbitrary decision. It was just people don’t like seeing a xx being hit by a xy! Got to call it by chromosomes I guess. All xx’s Olympic records will be broken by xy’s.
— MrBazza 🎬 (@MrBazza) August 1, 2024
Here’s the truth, Imane Khelif is a biological make and should not have been competing in women’s sports. Simple 👇 https://t.co/FQntMwGtzA
— J Stewart (@triffic_stuff_) August 1, 2024
This has been the worst Olympics of all-time
— Muhammad Zain (@_muhammadzain1) August 1, 2024
It’s so simplistic to say she’s a transgender, that is not the case – to say they are Intersex is a fair statement; so while they have been competing against women for many tournaments, the bout in question was not a good look based on size, perceived dominance and the reaction…
— Audley Harrison MBE (@audleyharrison) August 1, 2024
Now, even if the fans keep getting infuriated, the IOC has cleared its stance on Khelif and Yu-Ting. Moreover, it remains to be seen if the Algerian goes on to face this backlash and yet perform exceptionally well at the Paris Olympics 2024.
