Imane Khelif Wins First Olympic Fight, Faces Criticism
Algeria Condemns "Baseless Attacks" on Boxer
Disqualified from World Championships over Gender
WEB VILLEPINTE, France (AP) — Imane Khelif of Algeria won her opening Olympic boxing bout Thursday when opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit. However, Khelif's victory has been overshadowed by criticism and controversy.
The Algerian Olympic Committee has condemned "baseless attacks" on Khelif after questions were raised over her participation in the Games. Khelif was one of two female boxers disqualified from the 2023 world championships after failing a gender test.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its decision to allow Khelif to compete, saying that it is using rule books based on the version that applied at the time of her disqualification. However, the IOC's decision has drawn criticism from some who believe that it sends the wrong message about gender equality in sports.
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