Rep. Lauren Boebert is launching a fundraising campaign to raise $196,000 for Italian boxer Angela Carini, who withdrew from her Olympic match after being hit by an opponent with male chromosomes. Boebert claims the incident exposes the unfairness in gender eligibility rules and calls for an end to allowing men to compete against women.
The controversial opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which featured a Last Supper display that sparked religious backlash, has been overshadowed by another contentious issue: the defeat of Italian boxer Angela Carini. Carini's opponent, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, was deemed to have male chromosomes, prompting Carini to abandon the match in tears.
Olympian's Defeat Highlights Injustice in Gender Eligibility Controversy
Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is now raising funds for Carini through Give Send Go, seeking to match the gold medal payout she would have received had she won. Boebert alleges that the Olympics has "given the green light" to allow men to compete against women.
"It's really unfortunate when women who have competed since they were little girls, trained since they were little girls, are forced to compete against a mediocre male athlete," Boebert stated. "I believe that Angela deserves better. She worked her entire life to reach the very top of her sport, and my heart goes out to her today. It was really devastating."
Olympian's Defeat Highlights Injustice in Gender Eligibility Controversy
Boebert pointed to International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev's admission that Khelif was previously disqualified for failing to meet gender eligibility standards. "Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women. According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition," Kremlev said.
The congresswoman questioned the message sent by allowing Khelif to fight, stating that it "gave the green light that it's OK for men to compete, even a physical competition, to the point where they're hitting women. And this is not OK."
Olympian's Defeat Highlights Injustice in Gender Eligibility Controversy
"It's disgusting. And at what point are we going to say enough is enough and call for an end to this?… And it's not OK when it's on the world stage next, where women are being defeated by men," Boebert added.
Boebert emphasized that every dollar raised through Give Send Go will go directly to Carini. The move has garnered support from some quarters, including former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who tweeted: "I stand with @LaurenBoebert on this one. We cannot allow men to compete against women in sports. It's unfair and it defeats the purpose of having women's sports."
However, the issue of transgender athletes remains a complex one, with differing opinions on the impact of inclusive policies on competition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has grappled with the issue, issuing guidelines that allow transgender athletes to compete without surgery but require them to maintain low testosterone levels.
Nonetheless, the controversy surrounding Carini's defeat has cast a shadow over the Olympics, raising questions about the fairness of the competition and the impact on women's sports. As the fundraising campaign gains traction, it remains to be seen whether it will galvanize change within the Olympic movement.
