In a surprising turn of events at the Paris Olympics, Italian boxer Angela Carini quit her match just 46 seconds into the fight against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. The bout, part of the women’s 66kg category, ended abruptly after Khelif landed a strong punch early on.
The fight started with a brief pause as Carini adjusted her head guard. Soon after, Khelif delivered a clean right hand that seemed to cause Carini significant pain. Immediately following the punch, Carini signaled to her team and decided not to continue the match. The referee then waved off the contest, declaring Khelif the winner.
As Khelif’s hand was raised in victory, Carini fell to her knees in tears. She appeared distressed and twice ignored Khelif’s attempts to console her. Carini was overheard telling her coach, “It’s not right, it’s not right!” before leaving the arena quickly. Reports suggested that Carini might have suffered a broken nose. Speaking to reporters, Carini mentioned that she had never been punched so hard in her career. Khelif, on the other hand, did not stop to answer any questions after the match.
#BreakingNews | Algerian Trans boxer Imane Khelif, who has male chromosomes and previously failed a gender test, defeated Italian female boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics, delivering a head punch.
#IStandWithAngelaCarini #Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/knh3wD1Yon— Ritam English (@EnglishRitam) August 1, 2024
Imane Khelif’s participation in the Olympics was notable because she was disqualified from the women’s World Championships in New Delhi last year for failing to meet the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) gender eligibility criteria.
Similarly, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, a double world champion, lost her bronze medal for the same reason. Neither Khelif nor Lin has ever identified as transgender or intersex athletes.
The World Championships were organized by the IBA, which is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For the Paris Olympics, the boxing competition is being managed by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), an ad-hoc unit set up by the IOC’s Executive Board.
In a recent statement, the IOC assured that all athletes in the boxing tournament comply with the eligibility and medical regulations set by the PBU. The IOC emphasized their efforts to maintain consistency and minimize disruptions to the athletes’ preparations.
After the fight, Carini shared her feelings with the media. She said, “For me, it’s not a defeat. When you climb those ropes, you’re already a warrior; you’re already a winner. Regardless of everything, it’s okay, fine like this. I didn’t lose tonight […] I only did my job as a fighter. I got in the ring and I fought. I didn’t make it. I’m coming out with my head held high and with a broken heart.”
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Carini also spoke about her decision to stop the fight, saying, “I’m a mature woman. The ring is my life. I’ve always been very instinctive, and when I feel that something isn’t right, it’s not giving up. It’s having the maturity to stop, it’s having the maturity to say: ‘OK, that’s enough.’”
She added, “I got in the ring and I said: ‘I’m going to give it all I’ve got, regardless of the person in front of me, who doesn’t interest me at this moment.’ I had to give my best. So, with regard to all the controversies, I was never interested. I went in and I just wanted to win.”
Speaking to the media, Carini reflected on her decision, saying, “It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.”
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