Boxer who beat Imane Khelif in 2022 speaks out after 46-second fight fuels gender controversy
A boxer who once fought Algeria's Imane Khelif and came out on top has weighed in on the controversy around her involvement in the 2024 Olympics.
On Thursday (1 August), Italian boxer Angela Carini faced off against Khelif in a round-of-16 Olympic bout that lasted just 46 seconds.
Carini, 25, chose to walk out of the ring during their welterweight match up, explaining that she had 'never been hit so hard' in her life, after being punched a couple of times by Khelif in the opening stages.
The Italian tried to continue after some time in her corner to readjust her gear, but shortly after resuming the fight, she was hit and raised her glove to the referee, to signal that she was throwing the towel in.
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Speaking to the BBC, Carini said: "I wasn’t able to finish the match, I felt a strong pain to my nose and I said [to myself] for the experience that I have and the maturity as a woman that I have.
"I said I hope my nation won’t take it badly, I hope my dad won’t take it badly – but I stopped, I said stop for myself."
She also told ANSA that she was walking out with her 'head held high', after rejecting two attempts from Khelif to embrace her after the bout, even refusing a handshake before leaving in tears.
Controversy has since surrounded the situation in Paris after news that Khelif had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing an undisclosed gender eligibility test began to spread on social media.
Amidst all the noise, Amy Broadhurst, an Irish boxer who represents Great Britain, came to Khelif's defence after fighting the Algerian herself and coming out on top.
Broadhurst beat Khelif in the 2022 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships, and was having none of the speculation around her former opponent prior to her bout against Carini.
She posted on X: "Personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’.
"I thinks it’s the way she was born and that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been [beaten] by nine females before says it all."
The Olympics Committee have since come out with a lengthy statement, which detailed that 'all athletes' definitely 'comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit'.
On Wednesday, Algeria's Olympic Committee (COA) issued a statement to defend Khelif against 'baseless' attacks after questions were raised over her participation.
It read: "COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.
"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics.
"The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion."
Topics: Olympics, Sport, Imane Khelif
Joshua Nair