Italian boxer Angela Carini has stated that she wants to apologize to Imane Khelif after she withdrew from their controversial Olympics bout in tears after just 46 seconds.
The biggest controversy of the Paris 2024 Games to date has been the participation of Algerian boxer Khelif , and Chinese Taipei boxer Lin Yu-ting , who were both previously banned from competing in the World Championships after failing a gender test. Khelif’s results showed she had “elevated levels of testosterone” which “failed to meet the eligibility criteria”.
However, she has been allowed to compete in the Olympics due to the International Boxing Association (IBA) not overseeing Olympic boxing as they did in the World Championships. Instead, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted her permission to fight with their regulations not as strict as the IBA.
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Khelif faced Carini in the preliminary round in Paris on Thursday but their fight lasted just 46 seconds after the Italian quit in the ring. She devastatingly told reporters her dream was over as she explained her decision to abandon the bout. “I’m used to suffering,” Carini said. “I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal.
“I got into the ring to fight. But I didn’t feel like it anymore after the first minute. I started to feel a strong pain in my nose. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m leaving with my head held high.”
After the fight had been called, Carini refused to shake her opponent’s hand and knelt in the ring and cried in a possible protest move. But reflecting on the emotional incident, Carini has now spoken to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport on the post-fight controversy: “All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision,” she said.
Carini then discussed her decision not to shake hands with Khelif, admitting: “It wasn’t something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.” She later added she would “embrace” Khelif if they were to cross paths again.
The Italian’s journey to the Games came following the heartbreak of losing her father. Carini earned her spot in Paris through the Boxing 1st World Qualification Tournament, where she dedicated her triumph to her late father, who passed away before she could wrap up her qualification.
Khelif took to Instagram following her victory as she posted a picture of her celebrating the convincing win. However, she decided to limit comments on the upload due to previous posts being met with hostility by users.
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