‘WAVE OF OUTRAGE’ erupts as Imane Khelif punches Angela Carini so hard she has to back off to survive – ‘Her entire life dream came crushing down at the hands of a man allowed into women’s sports’

The recent bout between Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Italian competitor Angela Carini at the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked a massive controversy and ignited a heated debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The incident occurred during a highly anticipated boxing match, where Khelif delivered a powerful punch, forcing Carini to retreat and ultimately withdraw from the match. The aftermath saw Carini in tears, describing the force of the hit as something she had never experienced before, leading many to rally around her as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity​​.

The controversy centers on Khelif, who is a transgender woman, and the broader question of whether it is fair for transgender athletes to compete in categories that align with their gender identity, rather than their sex assigned at birth. Critics argue that allowing biologically male athletes to compete in women’s sports undermines the integrity of competition and poses safety risks. They point to inherent physiological differences, such as muscle mass and bone density, that may give transgender women an advantage over cisgender women, especially in contact sports like boxing​.