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By Ewan Palmer
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A number of MAGA figures have criticized Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's win in an Olympic women's bout, with some claiming that she is a man.
Former President Donald Trump and his 2024 running mate JD Vance are among those who have spoken out in the wake of the fight between Khelif and Italian boxer Angela Carini in Paris on Thursday.
The Italian withdrew from the fight after just 46 seconds, with Carini later saying that "one punch hurt too much" for her to continue.
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Khelif, as well as Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, were permitted to take part in the Olympics after being disqualified from the International Boxing Association [IBA]'s world championships in 2023 for failing gender eligibility tests. The IBA released a statement last week saying that the two boxers "did not undergo a testosterone examination" but were subject to "separate and recognized" tests that will remain confidential.
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IBA president Umar Kremlev told the Russian news agency Tass last year that Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the world championships because "it was proven they have XY chromosomes."
Kremlev has not made proof of his assertions public and The Associated Press reports that Khelif is listed as female on her passport.
Khelif and Lin have competed as women in amateur tournaments for years. Khelif won a silver medal at the IBA's 2022 world championships and competed at the Tokyo Olympics, while Lin is a double IBA gold medal winner.
After her victory over Carini on Thursday received widespread backlash, the International Olympic Committee issued a statement dismissing the "misleading information about two female athletes" competing in the boxing tournament.
The IOC, which is overseeing the boxing competition in Paris and cut ties with the IBA last June, does not conduct tests for XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone, and said the "gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport."
In their statement, the IOC defended the pair taking part in Paris while also attacking the IBA's decision to ban them after unspecified gender tests.
"Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination," the statement said. "All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit. As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.
"The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years."
IOC spokesman Mark Adams also defended the inclusion of the boxers in the wake of Khelif's win.
"I repeat that all the competitors comply with the eligibility rules. But what I would say is that this involves real people," he said. "And, by the way, this is not a transgender issue. I should make this absolutely clear."
A number of Republican figures have suggested that Khelif's victory on Thursday is part of an ongoing hot topic debate about whether trans athletes could compete in women's sports, despite the Algerian not being transgender.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a video of the fight between Khelif and Carini, adding: "I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS!"
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a political commentator, posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Enough of the gender insanity and the pandering to avoid hurting someone's precious feelings.
"The Olympics just allowed a biological man, Imane Khelif, to pummel Italian Olympian Angela Carini. She lasted 46 seconds because [of] how painful it was: 'I have never been hit so hard in my life.' Her life's work was stolen by a man who beats up women for sport. Will someone have to die before people wake up?! This entire ideology is pure evil."
In reply, Vance wrote: "This is where Kamala Harris's ideas about gender lead: to a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it."
Donald Trump Jr., the former president's eldest son, added: "This is what Democrats like Kamala Harris claim is 'pro-women' and totally 'normal.' A jacked dude beating the s*** out of a girl and not immediately being arrested and put in [a] jail cell. Liberalism has truly become a mental disorder."
The Trump/Vance campaign team has been contacted for comment via email.
Irish boxer Amy Broadhurst, who beat Khelif at the 2022 World Championships, was one of those who defended the Algerian following her win on Thursday.
"Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif. Personally I don't think she has done anything to 'cheat,'" Broadhurst posted. "I think it's the way she was born & that's out of her control. The fact that she has been beaten by 9 females before says it all."
Logan Paul, YouTube star turned professional wrestler and boxer, admitted he was "guilty of spreading misinformation along with the entirety" of social media after labeling Khelif a man.
"Although she's been previously disqualified for failing a 'gender test' and has XY chromosomes, some sources say Imane Khelif was born a biological woman," Paul said. "I stand by my sentiment that biological men should not compete against biological women in any sport."
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