Exclusive: both The White House and Kamala Harris’ campaign remained silent when asked for comment Thursday morning about whether they would support biologically male, intersex or transgender athletes competing alongside biologically female athletes in the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign was quick to denounce the idea amid a furor surrounding the Algerian boxer, who has been caught in the middle of a gender eligibility debate after his opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, withdrew from the bout 46 seconds into the bout due to a punch shock.
“President Trump has been clear that he will not tolerate men competing in women’s sports – an outrageous and unfair reality made possible by far-left politicians like Kamala Harris. Once back in the White House, President Trump will take immediate action to protect women and girls and reverse the Harris-Biden Administration’s radical rewrite of Title IX,” a Trump campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Olympic boxer determined to have male chromosomes wins bout in 46 seconds, opponent left in tears by brutal blows
Imane Kherif, left, competes against Angela Carini at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Thursday, Aug. 1. (AP Photo/John Rocker)
Algerian Olympian Imane Khelif is a candidate for the 2023 Olympic Games. World Boxing Championships After the International Boxing Federation ruled that Kherif had failed a gender test, Reuters reported that Kherif, who is listed as “female” on his passport, was found to have high testosterone levels.
“I went into the ring to fight. I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt so much that I decided I’d had enough,” embattled boxer Carini was quoted as saying by Italy’s ANSA news agency.
“I’m going out with my head held high.”
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, IBA president Umar Kremlev explained the decision at the time, saying DNA tests had revealed that “several athletes had tried to deceive their colleagues by pretending to be women. The tests proved that they have XY chromosomes.”
“Such athletes were excluded from the competition,” Kremlyov said.
Kherif has been cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee and the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) addressed the criticism ahead of the competition on Thursday.
‘Her blows hurt me a lot’ says former Olympic boxer’s opponent in gender eligibility debate
Imane Kheriff and Angela Carini after a fight. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)
“COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and denigration of our esteemed athlete Imane Kheriff with baseless propaganda by some foreign media,” the organization said, via Reuters.
“Such attacks on her character and dignity are extremely unjustified, especially as she prepares to reach the pinnacle of her career at the Olympic Games. The COA has taken all necessary steps to protect our champion.”
Italian authorities have expressed concerns about Khelif’s qualifications.
“It is surprising that there are no clear, strict and uniform standards at international level,” said Italy’s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, adding: “It is strange that the Olympic Games, a symbol of fairness in sport, should give rise to suspicions, and more than suspicions, that one of the participants played an unfair and dangerous game.”
Abortion and “free” education top issues for Harris supporters
both The White House and Kamala Harris’ campaign have remained silent on the Olympics controversy. (Getty Images)
“It was not a fair fight,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper.
“I don’t think athletes with male genetic characteristics should be able to participate in women’s sports, not because I want to discriminate against anyone, but because I want to protect the right of female athletes to compete on an equal footing,” Meloni said.
This isn’t the first controversy since the Olympics began last week. Olympic organizers faced strong backlash from Christians and others around the world over the opening ceremony of the 2024 Games after a skit featuring drag queens and a woman wearing a halo crown appeared to mock Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.”
If elected, Harris is expected to advance the Biden administration’s efforts to expand Title IX, the civil rights law that bans discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded schools and educational institutions and includes protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
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LGBTQ+ activists supported the change, calling it necessary to protect transgender students from certain restrictions. The rule went into effect on August 1.
Fox News Digital’s Ryan Gaydas contributed to this report.
