VIDEO. Her opponent has “high testosterone levels”: a boxer gives up at the start of the fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics

The Algerian Imane Khelif suffers from hyperandrogenism. MAXPPP – Ciro Fusco

The Italian Angela Carini gave up on Thursday after less than a minute of her fight in the quarter-final (-66 kg) against the Algerian Imane Khelif, present in the Olympic tournament despite rates high levels of testosterone which had deprived her of the world championships.

After a straight punch to the face from Khelif, Carini turned to her corner, indicating that she did not wish to continue.

“I went into the ring to fight. I didn't surrender but one punch hurt too much and I said enough“, the Italian boxer told her country's media after her defeat. “I'm not one to judge or make a decision, if this woman is here, there is a reason“, she added.

“All these controversies give him the strength to move forward”, declared Khelif's coach, Mohamed Chaoua, after the fight. “I thank the Algerian people. This is the first victory, and I hope to get the second to guarantee the medal. Then, I hope to win a gold medal”, declared Khelif who, in recent days, has received the support of his federation which denounced a smear campaign “by foreign media” aiming at her.

“They are women”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced “a fight that was not on an equal footing”, adding that she did not agree with the IOC”.

"I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women's competitions", she said, according to a video posted on X after the combat.

Khelif failed a gender eligibility test set up by the international federation (IBA) last year, excluding him from the World Championships. But on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) supported her presence, as well as that of Taiwanese Lin Yutin, who had also been excluded from the Worlds and must fight on Friday.

"All competitors respect the competition eligibility rules", Mark Adam repeated Thursday, spokesperson for the IOC, who added that it was "established that they are women".

"The testosterone test is not a perfect test. Many women can have testosterone levels equal to men and still be women", he said.

According to the Algerian boxer's file provided by the IOC, she was disqualified after "high testosterone levels" during these Worlds. Regarding Lin Yu-ting, according to her file, she "did'not meet the eligibility criteria after a biochemical test".