Olympics- Italian female boxer withdraws from the match: She was to play against Algerian boxer who failed gender test, debate on social media- why was a man fielded

Paris Olympics 2024 has once again been mired in controversy. This time the issue is of gender equality. On Thursday, Italian boxer Angela Carini stopped the 66 kg weight category fight in just 46 seconds and withdrew from the competition.

The Italian boxer’s withdrawal from the bout created controversy because the boxer she was facing from Algeria had failed the gender test last year. Not only this, she was disqualified from the gold medal match of World Champion-2023.

In such a situation, questions arose as to why Algerian boxer Iman Khalifa was allowed to play without testing.

The whole matter?
On the sixth day of the games being held in Paris, Khalifa faced Italy’s Angela Carini in the 66 kg weight category of women’s boxing. Carini left the match as soon as it started, she said that her nose was hurting a lot. Carini’s headgear also came off twice, after which she decided to withdraw.

The Italian boxer said

Khalifa of Algeria (Red) and Angela Carini of Italy (Blue) during their Round of 16 match in the 66kg women’s weight category.

Carini did not shake hands with Khalifa, she started crying in the ring
After leaving the match, Carini also refused to shake hands with Khalifa and cried in the ring before leaving.

Italy’s Angela Carini comes out of the ring crying after being withdrawn from the match.

Khalifa has won silver in the world championship
Khalifa is an amateur boxer who won a silver medal at the International Boxing Association’s World Championship-2022. He was declared ‘disqualified’ just before the gold medal match at last year’s World Championship, as tests claimed that his testosterone levels were high.

Iman Khalifa was disqualified just before the gold match of the World Championship-2023.