Khelif Wins Paris Olympic Bout in 46 Seconds

Algerian Imane Khelif's much-anticipated Paris Olympics women's welterweight fight against Angela Carini in the round of 16 lasted 46 seconds after the Italian stopped following a powerful punch to the nose.

Carini fell to her knees, crying after Khelif was declared the winner.

The 25-year-old Khelif has been in the spotlight since being disqualified before a gold medal match at the 2023 World Championships for failing International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules that prevent athletes with XY chromosomes competing in women's events.

She was ruled eligible, however, to compete in Paris, a competition run by the International Olympic Committee after the Olympic body stripped the IBA of international recognition last year over issues related to governance and finance.

Khelif entered the packed North Paris arena amid loud cheers from fans waving Algeria flags, and the Italian was instantly no match for her opponent's speed and longer reach.

She landed four blows in the first 10 seconds and several more before Carini, who is six centimeters shorter than her opponent, went to her coach after 30 seconds to fix her headgear.

Carini briefly resumed the fight but could not stop Khelif landing another big punch to the face and the Italian lifted her hand and returned to her corner before her coach signaled she was pulling out.

Some sports have limited the levels of testosterone allowed for athletes competing in women's competition, while others ban everyone who has been through male puberty.

Boxing is run by the IOC after the IBA's recognition was stripped, and it has not updated eligibility rules but used those applied in previous Olympics.

The IOC has cleared the way for Khelif as well as Taiwan's double world champion Lin Yu-ting, who lost her bronze medal at last year's World Championships after she failed to meet the criteria for the same reason, to compete at the Games.