The Trump campaign has sharply criticised Vice President Kamala Harris for her alleged support of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who faced controversy at the Paris 2024 Olympics after defeating Italian boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.
Khelif, who was previously disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships for failing gender-eligibility tests. Algerian media had reported Khelif was disqualified for high level of testosterone in her system.
Imane Khelif does not identify herself as transgender or intersex. She was cleared by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete under its criteria.
According to the Trump campaign, the Biden-Harris administration’s recent changes to Title IX, which extend federal protections to males identifying as females in women’s sports and locker rooms, are partly to blame for this controversy.
In a statement, the Trump campaign said, “Kamala supports what just happened at the Olympics,” criticising the Vice President’s stance on gender inclusion in sports.
The IOC defended its decision, stating that all athletes in the women’s category are complying with eligibility rules.
“They are women in their passports, and it’s stated that this is the case, that they are female,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams asserted.
Meanwhile, IBA President Umar Kremlev stated that athletes who attempted to deceive their peers by posing as women were excluded from competition.
Angela Carini expressed disappointment after her defeat, saying, “I’ve never taken a punch like that.” Carini also mentioned feeling intense pain in her nose during the bout, which led to her withdrawal.
As Khelif progresses to the next round in the women’s 66-kilogram division, the debate over gender eligibility in sports continues to spark discussion and controversy on the international stage.
