The Olympic Boxing Has Everyone Confused
Olympic women's boxing has come under fire for ignoring sex chromosomes. A boxer with allegedly a male XY chromosome but biologically female features is in question. Imane Khalif of Algeria made Italian female boxer Angela Carini quit after only 46 seconds of the first round. After the match, Angela said she was scared and never felt such a strong punch in all her years of boxing.
How did this seemingly unfair match come about? The onus is on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to clarify because they had no issues recognizing the Algerian to compete with other female boxers. The International Boxing Association (IBA), on the other hand, disqualified her from competing because they said that she had a male chromosome and that her male hormonal level was very high. The IOC boxing officials said that a sex chromosome is not enough to determine a person's gender and that the IOC relied on what was written on their passport. The Italian parliament had a heated debate before the match, and viewers worldwide were stunned to see a female athlete's heartbreak. She fought for only 46 seconds to realize that she could be dead after receiving a decisive blow to her nose. Her dream to win at the Olympics was robbed of in a second.
Where is our world headed? Protecting the rights of certain people is one thing, but what if their rights impinge upon the rights of others? We need a balanced consideration of all athletes' rights. Honestly, this match between Imane Khalif and Angela Carini should not have occurred. The IOC did not do its due diligence in honoring and protecting all its athletes. I feel like we are all held hostage to the idea of 'tolerance' in the Paris Olympics. What exactly are we trying to achieve? From the opening ceremony, I was offended by the strange parody of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. It tainted the image of the beautiful Games it once was. Moreover, a significant injustice, in my opinion, occurred in the boxing ring the other day. The match should never have been allowed to happen.
Barring a major upset, Algeria's Imane Khalif will likely make it to the medal stand. It would be strange if she didn't. I imagine an IOC official placing a gold medal around her neck. They'll think they've done an excellent job of protecting the human rights of this female athlete. But what about Angela Carini, kneeling on the ring floor, devastated, crying out injustice? Can we ever forget her face? We need to hear the stories of LGBTQ people, but we also need to listen to the stories of people whose dreams have been shattered by the IOC. In boxing or wrestling, unlike archery or rifle-shooting, the athletes' physical strength and power are critical in the outcome. Why not consider a separate tournament for transgender athletes (for those who change from male to female) to keep everything fair? Fairness should be the cornerstone of all sports, and it's time we ensure it in Olympic women's boxing.
Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song