Boxer Angela Carini 'Felt Sorry' for Imane Khelif After Olympic Fight Sparked Gender Controversy

Carini bowed out of her match against Khelif after 46 seconds on Thursday, Aug. 1

The Italian boxer whose Algerian opponent has ignited discussions about female athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games is speaking out.

Angela Carini bowed out of her match against Imane Khelif after 46 seconds on Thursday, Aug. 1. Carini, 25, told the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport that she feels "sorry" for the discussion it sparked about Khelif's gender.

Carini's quick defeat caused many to question whether Khelif, 25, should have been eligible to compete at the Olympics after being disqualified from the 2023 boxing world championships due to failing an unspecified gender eligibility test, which the International Boxing Association (IBA) claimed showed elevated levels of testosterone.

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"All this controversy certainly made me sad, and I also felt sorry for my opponent, she had nothing to do with it and like me was only here to fight," Carini told Gazzetta dello Sport, per The Athletic.

The boxer also clarified why she didn't shake Khelif’s hand after the match.

“It was not intentional, in fact I apologize to her and to everyone. I was angry, because my Games had already gone up in smoke," said Carini. "I have nothing against Khelif and on the contrary if I happened to meet her again I would give her a hug."

Related: Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif, Who Faced Issues Over Gender Test, Wins Olympic Fight After Opponent Drops Out

When asked if she felt "manipulated" by those who are using her defeat to argue about gender issues, she told the outlet that it was a question she didn't want to answer.

"I imagine that many people supported me because like me they believed in my Olympic dream, in my desire to win a medal for Dad, who is no longer with us. That’s all," Carini told Gazzetta dello Sport, per The Athletic.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) issued a joint press release expressing that "all athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations."

Related: Who Is Imane Khelif? Meet the Algerian Olympic Boxer Vying for Gold After First Fight Sparked Gender Controversy

According to their statement, "as with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport."

The press release also notes that the athletes "have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments."

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