The Algerian Olympic Committee has filed an official complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the treatment of their female boxer, Imane Khelif.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s boxing federation and Bulgaria’s Olympic Committee have reached out to the IOC to express their objections to her participation in the 2024 Games.
Khelif encountered significant backlash following her win over Angela Carini in the women’s welterweight round of 16 at the Paris Olympics, as the Italian boxer withdrew from the match just 46 seconds in.
The controversy intensified when it became known that Khelif had not met the eligibility requirements set by the International Boxing Association (IBA) prior to the Women’s World Championships.
However, the IOC, which is managing boxing for the 2024 Games but was not the organizer of the World Championships, allowed Khelif to compete in Paris.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif (above) defeated Angela Carini of Italy after just 46 seconds of their women’s 66kg preliminary round match at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Khelif faced severe criticism following her victory over Angela Carini at the Paris Olympics, with the Italian boxer withdrawing from the bout just 46 seconds in
The crestfallen Italian fighter Carini fell to her knees and wept after the bout took place
The disagreement, which revolves around issues of gender identity, equity in competition, and the integrity of Olympic sports, has surged to the forefront after Khelif’s encounter with Carini.
The situation escalated further when Khelif’s next opponent, Anna Luca Hamori, made a series of derogatory remarks about her on social media. Consequently, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee filed an official complaint with the IOC.
‘The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committees wish to inform the national and international public that we have submitted a formal complaint today to the International Olympic Committee,’ they stated.
‘This complaint pertains to violations of sports ethics and the Olympic Charter involving our champion Iman Khalif, due to the behavior of another participant in the boxing tournament for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.’
‘The International Olympic Committee has made a final apology to the violators, instructing them to remove any posts referencing our champion Iman Khalif. We retain the right to take legal action against those involved in this reprehensible campaign against her. Wishing our heroine success and long live Algeria.’
In parallel, Hungary’s boxing federation and Bulgaria’s Olympic Committee have reached out to the IOC to contest Khalif’s participation in the 2024 Games.
‘Our federation has informed the Hungarian Olympic Committee of our objections to the Algerian athlete’s participation,’ stated Hungary’s federation (MOB). ‘We are continually exploring the means to uphold Hamori’s rights to fair competition according to the existing regulations.’
The statement further noted: ‘The MOB president has initiated urgent discussions with the IOC Director of Sport to clarify the situation.’
Khelif is scheduled to face Hamori later today.
Khelif is one of two athletes—together with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting—who have been permitted to compete in the Paris 2024 after being disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for allegedly failing to meet gender eligibility tests.
The IOC, responsible for boxing at the Paris 2024 Games but not the organizer of the World Championships, noted that Khelif was disqualified in India due to elevated testosterone levels.
Despite receiving a bye in the first round at the Olympics, Khelif, who also competed in the Tokyo Games, drew criticism following her match with Italian boxer Carini.
Within the first 30 seconds of their encounter, Carini was struck in the face and went to her corner to have her headgear adjusted by her coach, with reports indicating she had broken her nose.
Although she briefly continued, Carini hardly delivered a punch before informing her corner ‘it’s not fair’ and ultimately abandoning the match ‘for her own safety’—immediately dropping to her knees in tears.
‘I couldn’t finish the match. I felt a sharp pain in my nose and, based on my experience and maturity as a woman, I hoped my country wouldn’t be upset, and I thought I should stop for my own well-being,’ Carini explained to BBC Sport post-fight.
Anna Luca Hamori of Team Hungary celebrates after winning the Women’s 66kg preliminary round match against Marissa Williamson of Team Australia on August 1
In the lead up to her match on Saturday, Hamori shared several posts to her Instagram story about Khelif, including an image of a small woman facing a muscled beast in boxing gloves
‘It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to safeguard my life in that moment. I don’t fear the ring or the strikes. Yet, this time I felt it was time to end it, as I was unable to continue.’
After the match was stopped, the referee raised Khelif’s hand, but an visibly upset Carini withdrew her hand from the official’s grasp and left the ring.
During their brief fight, Carini was hit with two powerful punches from Khelif, which she described as ‘impossible to continue.’
Ignoring Khelif after the match ended, the Italian athlete sank to her knees and sobbed, later admitting that she had never experienced punches of such intensity in a fight before.
Reflecting post-fight, Carini said: ‘I am accustomed to pain, but I’ve never been struck like that; it was impossible to go on. I’m not one to declare it illegal.’
‘I entered the ring ready to fight. However, by the first minute, I knew I couldn’t continue due to the pain I felt in my nose. I didn’t give in, but the pain from the punch was too severe, so I declared I’d had enough and left with my head held high.’
She clarified that her departure was not a protest against Khelif’s participation, but rather a decision for the Olympic organizers to reflect upon.
When asked about why she knelt after the match, Carini mentioned it was a tribute to her late father, who passed away in 2021, and concluded, ‘I regret not being able to bring Italy to the podium.’
She then underwent a medical evaluation to assess the extent of her facial injuries, which included a bruised nose, and later extended her apologies for her actions towards Khelif.
‘All this controversy saddens me,’ Carini expressed. ‘I regret my actions toward my opponent… If the IOC has deemed she can compete, I respect that decision. It wasn’t my intention to disregard the handshake.’
‘In fact, I would apologize to her and everyone else. I was upset because my Olympic dreams were shattered. I harbor no ill will towards Khelif; in fact, if I met her again, I would embrace her.’
