Gender issue that's grabbed eyeballs

THE gender controversy in boxing took a dramatic turn on Friday.

- INDRANEEL DAS

Just when the debate whether two athletes, previously disqualified over a gender issue, should continue playing at the Paris Olympics or not was raging, the central character in the whole drama, Italy's Angela Carini, came out and apologised to Imane Khelif, her opponent on Thursday.

A day after that drama, Carini formally apologised to Imane for not shaking her hand. "Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else," she said. "I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don't have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her." Her withdrawal from the boxing bout after a mere 46 seconds has caused furore in the world of sport. However, one must understand that the two were not born male. Interestingly, the controversy has an Indian connection too. The decision to debar them from boxing was taken in New Delhi. At the 2023 World Championships in the capital, the now de-recognised International Boxing Association (IBA) that was conducting it, declared them ineligible (Imane and Lin Yuting) to contest mid-way into the tournament. When they arrived at the decision, the Algerian was in the final and Chinese Taipei pugilist had won a bronze. Boxing India, the host federation, was informed about the decision but it is understood that they were not given details of the tests IBA had conducted. These findings, according to a few federations, have not been shared with them as well.