Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who failed a gender eligibility test last year, pummelled her Italian opponent in 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics on Thursday as the controversy threatened to overshadow the sixth day of the Games.
It will also renew the debate about the inclusion of competitors in other sports at the Olympics and beyond who have undergone similar eligibility testing.
A distraught Angela Carini, showing signs of physical pain, shrugged off attempts by Khelif to shake her hand afterwards and the Italian collapsed to her knees and sobbed uncontrollably in the middle of the ring.
Khelif advanced to the quarter-finals of the women's 66kg category after unloading two strong punches on Carini, who had blood on her shorts and was unable to carry on because of a badly hurt nose.
The one-sided bout sparked an immediate reaction from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said the fight was "not on an equal footing".
"I have a big pain in my nose and I said, 'stop'. It's better to avoid keeping going. My nose started dripping (with blood) from the first hit," said the distressed Carini, who also broke down in tears when talking to reporters.
The 25-year-old sobbed: "I fought very often in the national team. I train with my brother. I've always fought against men, but I felt too much pain today."
Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who fights on Friday at 57kg, were disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi run by the International Boxing Association but deemed eligible to box in the women's competition in Paris.
Both boxers also competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
The IBA, in a statement on Wednesday, said Lin and Khelif were disqualified from the world championships as "a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women's competition".
"The athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test, whereby the specifics remain confidential," it added.
The International Olympic Committee is running the boxing in the French capital because of governance, financial and ethical issues at the IBA.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters this week: "Everyone competing in the women's category... is complying with competition eligibility rules.
"They are women in their passports and it's stated in there that they are female."
But Italy's Meloni said she did "not agree with the IOC," during a meeting with Italian athletes in Paris.
"I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women's competitions," she added.
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, wrote on X that Carini "and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex".
'Lies'
Khelif was given a huge roar when she came into the North Paris Arena, where there were numerous Algeria fans with the country's flag.
Before and during the very brief bout they chanted her name, but the action itself was over in a flash.
Khelif stopped only briefly to talk to reporters afterwards, saying: "It's always satisfying to win in such an important competition, but I remain focused on my goal of a medal."
Algeria and Taiwan sprang to the defence of their boxers.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te gave the 28-year-old Lin his public backing.
"Now that she is once again on the international stage, we should stand united and cheer for her," he wrote on Facebook.
Algeria's Olympic Committee (COA) condemned what it called "malicious and unethical attacks directed against our distinguished athlete, Imane Khelif, by certain foreign media".
The COA hit out at "lies" that were "completely unfair".
Khelif faces Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday in the quarter-finals and the Hungarian said she was trying to ignore the furore.
"I know why I came here, I want to get a medal, so I don't care about anything," she said. "I am not scared."
AFP