Transgender Boxer Wins Women's Fight After Opponent Forfeits in Under a Minute
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured a victory at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, defeating Italian opponent Angela Carini. The fight ended abruptly, with Carini quitting just 46 seconds in, refusing to shake Khelif's hand afterward and breaking down in tears on the floor.
Khelif's participation in the women's Olympic boxing event has been a subject of scrutiny in recent days. Reports have resurfaced that Khelif, along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, failed to meet gender eligibility requirements at the previous Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. At that time, sports officials alleged the two boxers had male chromosomes and did not meet the criteria to compete as women.
However, 25-year-old Khelif has consistently competed as a woman, including during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There are no indications that she identifies as transgender or intersex, the latter term referring to individuals born with sexual characteristics that do not strictly fit the male-female binary.
Despite the controversy surrounding her gender identity, Khelif was able to secure a quick victory in her opening bout at the Paris Games. The abrupt ending, with her opponent forfeiting, has only further fueled the debate around Khelif's eligibility to compete in the women's division.