Complexity and fairness in the case of Olympic boxer Imane Khalif

Just 46 seconds into the fight, Italian boxer Angela Carini threw in the towel at the Paris Olympics, igniting a gender fairness controversy in women’s athletics.

Carini, tearful in a post-bout interview, described facing Imane Khalif from Algeria, who had been disqualified from a previous event for failing a gender-identification test, as the most powerful punch she had ever received.

This situation is complex: Unlike many male athletes competing against females in the United States who self-identify as transgender, Khalif is believed to have a disorder of sexual development (DSD).

DSD encompasses rare genetic conditions affecting hormones and reproductive organs, where an individual may appear female externally but have the biology and XY chromosomes of a male.

In many cases, DSD is detected early in life, but in undetected cases, the truth may only surface during puberty when elevated testosterone levels reveal a biological male in a seemingly female body.

While Khelif’s specific condition is unknown, she did fail a test at the 2023 World Boxing Championships.

Similarly, Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan, who defeated Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in an Olympics bout, also failed a test in 2023.

The International Olympic Committee has not disclosed the exact details of the DSD due to privacy concerns, but reports suggest the disqualifications were not related to testosterone levels but rather genetic testing, indicating a Y chromosome present in biological males.

Imagining the emotional burden of growing up as a girl only to discover a male chromosome makeup is a complex experience, especially when excelling in women’s athletics.

While compassion is warranted, the issue of allowing athletes with these conditions to compete in women’s sports raises concerns about fairness and safety.

Carini, after receiving two significant blows, made the decision to stop the fight due to safety concerns. Without corrective actions from the IOC, there is potential for serious harm.

Efforts to regulate female boxers’ testosterone levels, akin to performance-enhancing drugs screenings, are crucial to maintaining a fair sports environment.

However, the implications of these issues extend beyond the Olympics and affect the treatment of intersex athletes.

Simultaneously, the Biden-Harris administration’s revision of Title IX in effect in 24 states expands “sex” to include “gender identity,” permitting males to participate in girls’ sports based solely on self-identification as female.

This alteration raises questions about fairness and safety in competitions, locker room privacy, and overnight accommodations for female athletes.

The emphasis should not only be on respecting transgender athletes but also on safeguarding the rights of all athletes and ensuring a fair and safe playing field.

Angela Carini’s Olympic experience can hopefully spark positive change moving forward.

Erika Sanzi serves as the director of outreach for Parents Defending Education.