The Olympic Committee has released a statement regarding the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif, who was allowed to participate in the boxing event even though he failed a DNA test last year.
The statement noted that everyone has the right to engage in sport without discrimination.
Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit/IOC Statementhttps://t.co/22yVzxFuLd pic.twitter.com/fZvgsW8OOi
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 1, 2024
Following her bout with Khelif, Italian boxer Angela Carini quit after just 46 seconds. She reportedly cried after she was hit in the face by a punch.
Although Khelif was declared the winner after he was kicked out of the world championships due to a failed drug test, he has faced a backlash.
Some of the prominent individuals who criticized him included former Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss and Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
Lin Yu-ting, an athlete from Taiwan, was also allowed to participate in the event despite failing the same test.
In response, the IOC and the boxing unit of the Paris 2024 Olympics released a joint statement to clarify that all athletes participating in the event followed the proper regulations.
Everyone has the right to participate in sport without discrimination.
The athletes who were participating in the boxing event at the Olympic Games follow the proper entry and eligibility regulations.
The statement also disputed the misleading information about the two female competitors.
It noted that these two women have been participating in various boxing competitions in the past.
The IOC pledges to uphold the rights of competitors at the Olympic Games, which are outlined in its Charter, Ethics Code, and Human Rights Strategic Framework.
The organization is disturbed by the verbal abuse directed at the female competitors.
After her bout against Khelif, Italian boxer Carini said that she was unable to continue due to the pain in her nose.
She then said that she had to stop the fight to protect herself. It could have been her life’s match, but she had to protect herself.
Iman Khalif, the Algerian boxer, said that he was not afraid of the ring and was not afraid of getting hit.
He was able to defeat Carini in less than half an hour. The boxing federation of Algeria praised Khelif for his victory.
In a statement, it noted that he responded to Carini’s attacks and won the fight easily.