Imane Khalif was cleared to compete at the 2024 Olympics having earlier failed a testosterone level test, but her opponent Angela Carini made an early exit during a first round meeting
Olympic boxer Angela Carini admitted she couldn’t breathe after quitting her fight with controversial boxer Imane Khelif after 46 seconds.
Carini, 25, was reduced to floods of tears after calling an end to her boxing bout. The Italian boxer fought for just 46 seconds on Thursday. Carini raised her hand after taking a punch from the Algerian boxer before consulting her corner and quitting the bout.
Khelif, 25, was announced as the winner by the referee. But Carini refused to acknowledge her opponent. Instead, the Italian fell to her knees in tears as she came to terms with the end of her Olympic dream.
Angela Carini chose to stop her fight less than a minute in (Image: Getty Images)
Carini later revealed she quit due to the magnitude of the punch thrown by Khelif, adding that she’d never been hit so hard. "After the second [punch] I couldn’t breathe anymore," she said. "I went to my coach and said ’enough’ because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn’t feel like fighting anymore."
The fighter’s coach said they feared Carini’s nose might be broken while Khelif declined to answer questions from reporters. Carini later admitted she was "heartbroken" and said she was there to "honour her father and represent her country".
Khelif has been a controversial inclusion at this summer’s Olympics. The Algerian failed a testosterone level test before her gold medal fight at last year’s World Championship but was cleared to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Algerian Olympic Committee issued a strongly-worded statement ahead of her opening fight against Carini at the 66kg weight class. "Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics," Algeria’s committee said.
"The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion." Khelif landed an early blow against Carini, who pulled out after being hit on the chin. The fight was over in just 45 seconds, with the Italian reportedly in tears.
Khelif was one of two boxers in the women’s draw in Paris after previously failing testosterone level tests. However, the IOC defended the decision to let both her and Taiwanese athlete Lin Yu‑ting to take part. “Obviously I am not going to comment on individuals,” the IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said: “I have been trying to explain for years that, when taken to the extreme, some theses risk impacting women’s rights. I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions. Not because we want to discriminate against anyone, but in order to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms”
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