The gender rules that allow Imane Khelif to fight in 2024 Olympics but not world championships

The Paris Olympics are facing questions about the decision to allow two boxers to compete in the women’s division after they were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships. 

Those questions only intensified Thursday when one of them, Imane Khelif of Algeria, forced her opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, to withdraw 46 seconds into their opening-round bout. 

Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan failed gender eligibility tests at the world championships in New Delhi and were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA).

But the IBA has no part in running the Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee, which does not require similar tests, has cleared them.

“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said at a Tuesday press conference. “They are women in their passports and it’s stated that this is the case, that they are female.”

The different status of Lin and Khelif at the Olympics and worlds is fallout from the years-long dispute between the IOC and the Russian-led IBA over alleged failures of governance and integrity, plus reliance on funding from state energy firm Gazprom.

Organizations such as World Aquatics, World Athletics and the International Cycling Union have made adjustments to their gender rules in recent years. Athletes who went through male puberty are now banned from competing in women’s events.

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

In New Delhi, Khelif was disqualified prior to a gold medal match against a Chinese opponent “after her elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria.”

Lin is seeded first in the 57-kilogram featherweight class, while Khelif is the fifth seed in the 66-kilogram welterweight division.

Lin’s first bout is against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova on Friday.

On Thursday, Khelif dispatched of Carini quickly. 

“I’m used to suffering,” Carini said afterward. “I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal. 

“I got into the ring to fight. But I didn’t feel like it anymore after the first minute. I started to feel a strong pain in my nose. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m leaving with my head held high.”

Carini’s coach warned her before the fight about the risk.

“I don’t know if her nose is broken. I have to speak with the girl. But many people in Italy tried to call and tell her: “Don’t go, please: It’s a man, it’s dangerous for you,” Emanuele Renzini said after the fight.