Boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears and withdrew from her Olympics bout after just 46 seconds, amid controversy surrounding her opponent’s gender.
Carini went up against Algerian fighter Imane Khelif in Paris today, having been on the receiving end of some painful-looking blows.
Khelif was previously disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests.
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However, for this year’s Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee said it was satisfied she complied with all rules to compete.
During the clash, Carini suffered a suspected broken nose and eventually raised her glove to withdraw from the fight, before falling to her knees in tears as the referee lifted Khelif’s hand to confirm her win.
At one point, Carini reportedly turned to her coach Emanuele Renzini and said: “It hurts like hell.”
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After the fight, Carini said: "I have always honoured my country with loyalty.
"This time I didn’t succeed because I couldn’t fight anymore. So I put an end to the match.”
Khelif's participation in this year's Olympics has proven controversial, despite competing at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
The Algerian had been disqualified from last year's World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests.
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The IOC has defended the athlete's right to compete, with spokesperson Mark Adams saying in a statement: “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules.
"They are women in their passports and it’s stated that this is the case, that they are female.”
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has faced similar scrutiny this year, having won the IBA World Championships in 2018 and 2022, only to have a bronze medal taken off her last year because the governing body claimed she failed to meet eligibility requirements in a biochemical test.
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She is due to go up against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in a featherweight bout tomorrow after receiving a first-round bye.
A number of boxers have been asked about their thoughts on the topic at this year's Games, with some expressing their concerns while others have suggested careful consideration is needed for a clearly complex matter.
Australian middleweight Caitlin Parker weighed in: “I don’t agree with that being allowed, especially in combat sports as it can be incredibly dangerous.
“But right now, my focus is on getting through each fight. It’s not like I haven’t sparred with guys before, but it can be dangerous for combat sports, and it should be seriously looked into. It is good that these things are coming out, and it’s being put under the spotlight to be looked into further.
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“Biologically and genetically, they are going to have more advantages. Combat sports can be dangerous. Fairness is what it’s all about. We all want fairness in sport.”
Topics: Olympics, Sport, Imane Khelif
Jess Hardiman