Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her Olympic fight against Algeria's Imane Khelif, sparking controversy. Khelif's participation, defended by the IOC, follows her disqualification from last year’s championships. Carini expressed regret for not shaking hands, emphasizing respect and the challenges of Olympic competition.
Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her Olympic match against Algeria's Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the bout, expressing her regret and desire to apologize for her actions. Khelif's participation in the Paris Olympics has been contentious, as she was disqualified from the previous year's Women's World Championships for failing eligibility criteria.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended Khelif's right to compete, asserting her status as a female athlete. Carini, 25, acknowledged the controversy and expressed her respect for the IOC’s decision but regretted not shaking hands with Khelif. She explained that her decision to abandon the fight was driven by frustration and the realization that her Olympic dreams had been dashed. Carini emphasized that her actions were not intended to disrespect her opponent and vowed to embrace Khelif if they met again.
The match's abrupt end came after Carini took a punch to the face within 30 seconds, leading her to seek assistance from her coach before ultimately deciding to stop the fight. The International Boxing Association (IBA) had previously ruled Khelif ineligible for women's competition, but the IOC recognizes her as a female athlete based on her lifelong identification as a woman.
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