Featured Image Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Topics: Boxing, Olympics, Sport, Imane Khelif
Joshua Nair
Topics: Boxing, Olympics, Sport, Imane Khelif
The boxer that pulled out of her fight after her opponent failed a gender eligibility test has revealed what caused her to call the fight off in the early stages.
Angela Carini is the Italian Olympic boxer who made the call to walk out of the ring just 46 seconds into her welterweight bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif.
Khelif was declared the winner by default after the Italian boxer raised her hand and had her gear checked by her team after one punch.
She then raised her glove again after getting a second punch before backing out of the fight.
Advert
The Algerian athlete went over to hug her opponent, which Carini rejected - the 25-year-old was also seen on her knees in the ring, crying after abandoning the fight.
It took less than a minute for the Italian to call time, but Khelif's participation in the event itself has raised a lot of controversy in itself after she was disqualified from the Women's World Boxing Championships in 2023, having failed to meet the eligibility criteria.
The official Olympics website detailed that the Algerian boxer was disqualified just hours before facing off against China's Yang Liu in New Delhi, after her 'elevated levels of testosterone' failed to meet the eligibility criteria.
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) has since hit out at 'baseless' attacks on Khelif.
Advert
According to the BBC, before Khelif's bout with Carini, they said: "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."
However, Carini has since come out and revealed why she called off the fight against Khelif early.
Speaking to ANSA, she said: "I got into the ring to fight. I didn't give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough.
"I'm leaving with my head held high."
Advert
The International Boxing Association (IBA), who don't govern the events in the Olympics, released a statement on Wednesday, detailing that their decisions were made following a 'meticulous review'.
The IBA revealed that Khelif didn't undergo a testosterone exam, but was instead 'subject to a separate and recognised test, whereby the specifics remain confidential', which was held at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
According to the governing body, the tests 'conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria', which found her to have 'competitive advantages over other female competitors.'
