On Day 6 of the Paris Olympics, the world witnessed Imane Khelif clash with Angela Carini in a bout that lasted a mere 46 seconds.
Khelif, hailing from Algeria, controversially qualified for women’s boxing despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships due to an undisclosed gender eligibility test failure. Meanwhile, Italy’s Carini entered the ring to honor her late father.
During his Thursday show on ESPN, host Pat McAfee shared his thoughts on the match.
“There’s no reason we should be seeing a potential male [physically] body punching a [woman],” he stated.
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Algeria’s Imane Khelif, left, lands a punch on Italy’s Angela Carini during their match at the Summer Olympics at North Paris Arena in Villepinte, France, on Aug. 1, 2024. (MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)
McAfee referenced a statistical chart comparing average times in swimming events for men and women at this year’s Olympics, showing that men had faster times across the board.
“I understand that not every woman and every male physical body aligns in this argument. We’re discussing physical attributes, not inner identities; however, at peak competition levels, a distinct advantage exists,” McAfee explained. “This has always been the case, and likely always will be. I hope we reach a consensus on this matter, as many share similar perspectives.”
Previously, ESPN addressed the topic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports in an episode of “Sports Science,” featuring expert insights, including physiologist Tommy Lundberg, who determined that male bodies inherently hold physical advantages over females, even with the use of puberty blockers.
McAfee’s stance aligns him with a number of notable figures who have spoken against Khelif’s participation against Carini, including former President Trump, boxer Jake Paul, and renowned author J.K. Rowling.
ITALIAN BOXER BREAKS SILENCE AFTER ABANDONING OLYMPIC BOUT AGAINST FIGHTER IN GENDER CONTROVERSY
The International Olympic Committee defended its decision to allow Khelif’s participation, asserting that athletes like her have competed in previous Olympics, including the recent Tokyo games in 2021.
“Every athlete in the women’s category complies with the competition eligibility rules,” stated IOC spokesperson Mark Adams. “These athletes have a long history of competition; they’ve not just appeared out of nowhere. They were present in Tokyo.”
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The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) issued a statement backing Khelif post-bout, condemning the “unethical targeting and maligning” of her character by certain foreign media outlets.
Prior to the match, Carini expressed her desire to win a medal in remembrance of her father.
“I wanted this victory at all costs for my father,” Carini shared with reporters before her match on Thursday.
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