IBA Awards Ksh.6.4M to Angela Carini Despite Olympic Loss to Imane Khelif Amidst Controversy

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has decided to award Italy’s Angela Carini Ksh.6.4 million ($50,000) despite her early exit in the welterweight round-of-16 bout at the Paris Olympics. Carini’s bout against Algeria’s Imane Khelif ended in just 46 seconds on Thursday, marking a swift and unexpected conclusion to her Olympic journey. The IBA’s decision comes as a gesture of support for Carini, who pulled out in the first round after being overwhelmed by Khelif’s barrage of punches.

The IBA, which had its international recognition stripped by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year due to governance issues, announced that Carini would receive $50,000 in prize money. Additionally, her federation will receive $25,000 (Ksh.3.2 million), and her coach will be awarded another $25,000. This decision has sparked a broader discussion about athlete eligibility and fairness in competition.

Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, both at the center of a gender eligibility debate, were cleared to compete in Paris despite previous disqualifications at the 2023 World Championships. The IBA’s eligibility rules prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events, a regulation that led to their initial disqualification. However, the IOC overruled this decision, allowing them to participate in the Olympics.

The IOC’s involvement has drawn significant attention, particularly as it assumed control of the Paris 2024 boxing competition after stripping the IBA of its status as the sport’s governing body. This move was intended to ensure fair governance and competition standards, yet it has inadvertently placed the IOC at the center of a heated debate over athlete eligibility.

In an interview with Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport, Carini expressed her sadness over the controversy, emphasizing that her comments were not intended to create such a furor. “All this controversy certainly made me sad, and I also felt sorry for my opponent,” she said. “I was angry because my Games had already gone up in smoke. I have nothing against Khelif and on the contrary, if I happened to meet her again, I would give her a hug.”

Carini’s sentiments were echoed by several prominent figures, including Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who highlighted the perceived physical advantages in the bout. “The Italian athlete had faced a boxer who had physical advantages, and it was not a fight between equals,” Meloni stated after meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach.

Conversely, WBC women’s world featherweight champion Skye Nicolson defended Khelif and Lin, arguing that their inclusion in women’s boxing is justified. “They have grown up as girls, as females, as women. They have competed as women the whole time,” Nicolson said in an Instagram post. “These are not naturally born men who have decided to call themselves women to fight in the Olympics.”

The issue of eligibility in women’s sports remains complex and contentious. Some sports have implemented regulations limiting testosterone levels for female athletes, while others have outright bans on those who have undergone male puberty. Differences of Sexual Development (DSD), a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs, further complicate these regulations.

The IOC maintained that the eligibility rules for the Tokyo Games in 2021 were applied in Paris, and these rules could not be altered mid-competition. As the debate continues, the IBA’s decision to award Carini Ksh.6.4 million stands as a significant statement of support, reflecting the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and inclusive competition in the world of sports.