Savannah Marshall has criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and demanded transparency after the women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics was mired in controversy on Thursday.
In the opening round of the women’s welterweight event, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif triumphed over Angela Carini when the Italian contender withdrew just 46 seconds into the match.
Khelif’s participation has sparked debate, as she had been disqualified from the previous year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships under contentious circumstances.
The Olympics website revealed that Khelif was disqualified by The International Boxing Association (IBA) mere hours before a gold medal fight against China’s Yang Liu due to her testosterone levels exceeding eligibility standards.
IBA President Umar Kremlev stated that further DNA tests, including those on Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Tin, had confirmed they possessed XY chromosomes, categorizing them as ‘biologically male’.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif beat her Italian opponent Angela Carini at the Olympics on Thursday
Khelif’s (left) victory was hugely controversial after she was disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year due to her elevated levels of testosterone
Carini withdrew from the bout within 46 seconds and was left in tears following her defeat
Boxing and MMA star Savannah Marshall slammed the IOC in the aftermath of the drama
Despite this, Khelif was authorized by the IOC to compete in Paris, a decision that has drawn intense criticism from the IBA, along with various athletes, celebrities, and political figures concerning its safety implications, particularly after Thursday’s match.
‘This situation sheds light on Olympic boxing as a whole,’ Marshall, a former two-weight world champion, remarked exclusively to Mail Sport.
‘How can one competitor be barred from the World Championships but the IOC approves them for the Olympics?
‘This is a complete mess that should never have reached this point.’
Following the abrupt conclusion of the bout, Carini was seen crying in the ring, stating that her withdrawal was vital to ‘preserve my life’ as she described the experience of being hit by Khelif as unprecedented.
Marshall, a two-time Olympian, expressed her worries for Carini.
‘Absolutely,’ she added. ‘I have sparred with men and know there’s a significant power disparity between genders.
‘I’ve taken punches from men that hurt, but I’ve never experienced that kind of pain from a woman, so I truly empathize with her.’
Despite this, Marshall extended her sympathies to Khelif as well, stating that both she and Carini have been let down by the IOC.
‘The scrutiny she faces is horrible and disgusting,’ Marshall stated.
‘There are conflicting messages online, with some claiming it was a man fighting a woman, which is simply not accurate, as Khelif has always identified as female.
‘She has successfully competed against many other female athletes, so she’s not extraordinary. It’s not as if she is taking excessive testosterone.’
Carini took two heavy blows and said her withdrawal was needed in order to ‘preserve my life’
Marshall expressed her concern for Carini and said had been let down by the IOC in Paris
On the eve of the troubled match between Khelif and Carini, the IBA issued a statement to clarify the reasons behind the disqualification of both Khelif and Yu-Tin at last year’s World Championship.
The statement mentioned a ‘meticulous’ review process that was deemed essential to maintain fairness and integrity within the competition.
It also mentioned that no testosterone tests were conducted; instead, a separate and private examination was carried out, which ultimately found that both athletes did not meet necessary eligibility standards and held competitive advantages over their female counterparts.
The IBA pointed out that the disqualification was based on assessments made during the 2022 World Boxing Championships and noted that Khelif had withdrawn her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, making the decision binding.
In a pointed remark aimed at the IOC, the IBA expressed worries over the inconsistent application of eligibility standards across different sporting organizations, including those governing the Olympic Games, stating that these discrepancies raise significant concerns regarding competitive fairness and athlete safety.
What does Marshall think needs to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future?
‘There must be a clear stance: either female athletes with these gender considerations can compete or they cannot, it’s as straightforward as that,’ she asserts.
‘We cannot have one set of rules for one competition and a different one for another.’
‘(Khelif) has every right to aspire to win at the Olympics. I can only imagine the online backlash she has received, which is utterly shocking, but it all ties back to the core issues of what is right and wrong.’
‘We need a consistent rule that clarifies the eligibility for competition.’
Marshall also insisted Khelif has been let down and called for clarity on these types of issues
Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan was disqualified alongside Khelif at the World Championships, but she has also been permitted to compete in Paris and will be in action on Friday
Marshall claimed the controversy was symptomatic of the state of boxing at the Olympics
The debate surrounding Khelif’s victory is unlikely to die down shortly, and it is expected to resurface when Yu-Ting competes on Friday.
For Marshall, the resolution lies squarely with the IOC, and she emphasized that the incident involving Khelif and Carini reflects the current state of boxing at the Olympics.
‘Yu-Ting has qualified for the Olympics, so what will the IOC do next? Are they going to take that away from her? It’s complete chaos.
‘Women should really support Carini, but it is the Olympics and athletes aspire to become champions, changing their lives forever. So will they take a stand? Probably not.
‘The state of boxing is a disaster. There have been numerous controversial decisions, and this incident only adds fuel to the fire.’
