The participation of the Algerian at the Paris Olympics has caused some controversies as she was disqualified from the World Championships last year after failing gender eligibility tests.
In yesterday’s bout her opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit after just 46 seconds of the clash leading to a huge backlash on social media.
Angela Carini abandons her fight against Imane Khelif, a biological male, just a few minutes into the match.
Ban men from competing in women's sports! pic.twitter.com/GLVBgJycvF
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) August 1, 2024
Next up for Khelif is Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori who she faces on Saturday.
But, Hamori is clearly not concerned about the current uproar surrounding her opponent.
She said, as per the New York Post: “I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media.”
Hamori went on to speak about Carini’s decision to stop the fight.
She added: “It was her choice.
“I don’t understand, because I thought every boxer’s mind is the same like mine, to never give up. But it was her choice. We don’t know what was the reason. It’s her life, but I know I want to do this in my own life.”
In its statement on Thursday, the IOC accused the IBA of disqualifying Khelif “without any due process” by the IBA’s Secretary General and CEO.
‘As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport’ they wrote.
