Imane Khelif: Angela Carini apologises over Olympics gender boxing row | Other | Sport
Italian boxer Angela Carini has issued an apology to Algeria’s Imane Khelif for how she handled the aftermath of their boxing bout at the 2024 Olympics. Carini abandoned the fight in tears within the first minute after taking an early heavy blow and later refused to shake her opponent’s hand.
The controversial scenes at the North Paris Arena are charged by Khelif’s disqualification from last year’s Women’s World Championships for high testosterone levels – failing to meet eligibility criteria.
The Algerian dislodged Carini’s chinstrap with her first punch before a second blow to her chin bloodied her shorts, causing the 25-year-old to retreat to her corner.
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Carini then fell to her knees while uncontrollably crying and didn’t shake Khelif’s hand, later claiming she had never been hit as hard in the ring and feared that her nose was broken.
“I am heartbroken. I went to the ring to honour my father. I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this,” the Naples-born boxer said.
Khelif’s victory sparked debate online, and along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting – who also failed a gender test in New Delhi last year – she has been subject to vile abuse.
The International Olympic Committee has since strongly defended its decision to allow both boxers to compete, hitting out at “misleading information” online.
On Friday, Carini spoke out to further dispel the uproar, apologising for her actions after walking away from the bout after 46 seconds.
“All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision,” Carini told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
Despite doubling down on her decision to abandon the fight, citing her safety as the reason, she added: “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.”
Carini also insisted that she would “embrace” Khelif – who has always competed in the women’s division and is recognised by the IOC as a female athlete – if she saw her again at the Paris Games.
Yu-ting joined Khelif in the next round by defeating Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova by unanimous decision in the 57kg category.
The 28-year-old was cheered as she entered the arena, followed by some boos, and needed all three rounds to claim the win.
Turdibekova was in tears after exiting the ring and snubbed the broadcast media as she quickly fled the arena with her camp.
The pair of fighters shook hands after their bout.
