Italian boxer Angela Carini has spoken out after she abandoned her Olympic welterweight bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif.
Carini backed out of her match against Khelif earlier today (1 August) after just a few punches were thrown, with the 25-year-old subsequently leaving the ring in tears.
Khelif's inclusion in the Paris 2024 games has divided viewers, with the 25-year-old previously being excluded from the 2023 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi after failing a gender eligibility test due to levels of testosterone in her system.
Speaking about her decision to withdraw just 46 seconds into the fight in a post-match interview, Carini explained that she had 'never been hit so hard' in her life and added that the situation was up to the 'IOC [International Olympic Committee] to judge'.
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"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 added in an interview with BBC Sport.
"It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment."
Carini’s coach Emanuel Renzini went on to reveal that it wasn't yet clear if the Italian's nose had been broken in the bout.
"She felt pain in the nose and said to me I don’t want to fight anymore," he added.
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Last year, Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from competing in International Boxing Association (IBA) tournaments after it was reported that they failed a gender eligibility test.
However the IBA are not involved in IOC regulations, with the latter maintaining that Khelif was eligible to compete.
Khelif has never identified publicly as a man, transgender, or intersex.
Speaking about her opponent, Carini added: "I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy.
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"I am someone who doesn't judge anyone. I am not here to give judgements."
Meanwhile, Australia's Caitlin Parker - who competes in a different weight class Khelif - has condemned the decision by the IOC to allow the Algerian to compete.
"I don’t agree with that being allowed, especially in combat sports as it can be incredibly dangerous," she said earlier this week.
Algeria's Olympic Committee has defended Khelif against the attacks, saying: "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
Brenna Cooper