‘It’s unfair and dangerous’, slams Team GB two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams as she wades into boxing gender row
NICOLA ADAMS has waded into the boxing gender row regarding Olympic star Imane Khelif.
The Algerian boxer is at the centre of controversy after her fight with Italian fighter Angela Carini.
Carini, 25, walked out of the fight after just 46 seconds after receiving a couple of blows to the face.
She claimed that she feared for her life in the ring, in which she broke down in tears after the bout.
Khelif, 25, is one of two athletes who have been cleared to compete in the women's boxing, having been disqualified from last year's Women's World Championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Khelif was disqualified in New Delhi for failing a testosterone level test.
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Team GB two-time Olympic champion Adams, 41, has now spoken out against Khelif on social media.
She wrote: "After years of fighting for women's boxing to even exist in the Olympics and then all the training they go through to get there it was hard to watch another fighter be forced give up on her Olympic dreams.
"People not born as biological woman, that have been through male puberty should not be able to complete in women's sport.
"Not only is this unfair it's dangerous!!"
After the fight, Carini's coach revealed that she had been told not to start the fight.
They said: "I don’t know if her nose is broken.
Olympics gender controversy
THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) stirred up a huge controversy by clearing two women to box who had previously failed a gender test.
Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were disqualified at the Women's World Championships in New Delhi, India, in March 2023.
Lin Yu-ting was stripped of a bronze medal after failing a gender eligibility test.
Khelif was disqualified in New Delhi for failing a testosterone level test.
Officials found tests showed they had 'XY chromosomes' — which indicates a person is biologically male.
Rare 'intersex' medical conditions, medically known as differences in sexual development (DSDs), can also mean outwardly female individuals can have 'male' chromosomes, or vice versa.
The Russia-led International Boxing Association organised that event but is no longer recognised by the IOC.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: "These athletes have competed many times before for many years, they haven't just suddenly arrived - they competed in Tokyo.
"The federation needs to make the rules to make sure that there is fairness but at the same time there is the ability for everyone to take part that wants to. That is a difficult balance.
"In the end the experts for each sport are the people who work in that. If there is a big advantage that clearly is not acceptable, but that needs to be a decision made at that level."
Both Khelif and Lin competed at the delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Lin is a two-time winner at the Asian Women Amateur Boxing Championships.
The IOC said all boxers in Paris "comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations".
The controversy follows the famous case of Caster Semenya.
South African middle-distance runner Semenya has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than normal for women.
She won gold in the 800m at London 2012 and Rio in 2016 but was unable to compete at Tokyo in 2021 after World Athletics brought in new rules independently of the IOC at the time.
"I have to speak with the girl. But many people in Italy tried to call and tell her, 'don’t go please: it’s a man, it’s dangerous for you'."
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) had already defended Khelif's participation at The Games.
A statement read: "COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.
"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics.
"The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion."
In Algeria, the law does not allow people to transition between genders.
Khelif has never identified as a man, transgender, or intersex which refers to people who have male and female sex characteristics.
Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who has also previously failed eligibility tests, will also be fighting in the Paris Olympics.
Khelif has received the support of boxer Amy Broadhurst.
The Irish star responded to people on social media and pointed out that nine females had beaten the Algerian in the past.
She said: "Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif, personally I don't think she has done anything to 'cheat'.
"I thinks it’s the way she was born and that's out of her control.
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"The fact that she has been beaten by 9 females before says it all."
Khelif has had 51 fights in her career, winning 42, with six of the victories being by knockout while she lost the other nine.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY'S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Max Whitlock goes for an unprecedented fourth consecutive medal on the pommel horse (4.10pm)
Our dressage team can claim another gold at the equestrian (9am) after gold, silver and bronze at the last three Games.
Team GB will want to retain the 4x100m mixed relax relay (8.33pm) in the pool and Jake Jarman goes in the men’s floor gymnastics final (2.30pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Tom Pidcock gets back in the saddle after his epic mountain biking gold with the men’s road race (10am).
It is the last day of rowing with GB in with a chance of more medals - especially in the men’s and women’s eights (10.10am).
GB take on Argentina in their final women’s pool game in the hockey (9am).
And Tommy Fleetwood continues his charge towards golfing gold, co-leading at -11 after a seven-under yesterday (10.44am).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
US sprinter Sha-Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson will battle it out for women’s 100m sprint gold - with Dina Asher-Smith hoping to keep pace (8.20pm).
We also get a first look in the heats at 100m men’s stars Americans Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman who will battle with Zharnel Hughes for glory (10.45am).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Badminton often slips under the radar at the Olympics but is always incredible viewing with lightning-quick reactions.
The women’s doubles final features four of the best players in the world as Indonesia face China (3.10pm).
STATS MAD
6 - As of Saturday morning, only six athletes have won the same individual event at the Olympics four times. Katie Ledecky could join that prestigious list - which features Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps - in the 800m freestyle (8.09pm). Vincent Hancock could also do it in the skeet shooting today (2.30pm).
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.