The Italian pugilist Angela Carini succumbed to tears after abruptly withdrawing from her contest against the Algerian Imane Khelif a mere 46 seconds into the bout, a clash that ignited considerable controversy at the Olympic Games. Khelif, alongside another boxer, was permitted to compete despite her disqualification from the previous year’s women’s world championships due to non-compliance with gender eligibility standards.
In the intensely charged atmosphere of the North Paris Arena, Khelif’s initial strike disrupted Carini’s chin strap, and a subsequent blow to her chin left her shorts bloodied. Following a series of punishing punches, Carini retreated to her corner, signaling her distress. She collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed with emotion, and refused to extend her hand to Khelif after the Algerian was proclaimed victorious.
Carini disclosed that she withdrew after experiencing a level of impact she had never previously endured, fearing a possible nasal fracture. “I am utterly heartbroken,” Carini lamented. “I entered the ring to honor my father. I have often been lauded as a warrior, yet I chose to withdraw for the sake of my well-being. I have never felt such a devastating blow.”
The 25-year-old Neapolitan elaborated, “I entered the arena with the intention to fight. I did not concede lightly, but the intensity of one particular punch compelled me to halt. I leave with my dignity intact. After enduring the second punch, the pain in my nose was overwhelming. I declared ‘enough’ because I could not continue. Ending the match was the most prudent choice.”
“I am shattered,” she continued. “As a fighter, I have been trained to be valiant. I have always conducted myself with honor and represented my nation with fidelity. This time, however, I was unable to continue, regardless of the opponent or the surrounding controversy. My sole desire was to compete and to confront the adversary before me.”
When queried about whether it would have been more prudent to withdraw earlier, Carini responded, “I am not one to capitulate easily. Even if it had been suggested that we not fight, I would have refused to accept it. My mentality is that of a warrior. Yet, the pain inflicted upon my nose was too intense, leading me to call a halt.”
“For me, entering the ring is a victory in itself,” Carini asserted. “I am not here to pass judgment on fairness. I did my duty and left with my head held high. As a mature individual, recognizing when one can no longer continue is not surrender; it is a matter of maintaining dignity. I was confident of victory, focused and serene. However, the pain from those blows to my nose was unbearable.”
Carini reiterated that it was “not her place to judge” whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete. “I performed my role.”
Khelif, in a brief exchange with the BBC, declared, “I am here for gold. I am prepared to face any opponent, to fight them all.”
Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, voiced her concern over the incident. “Angela Carini wisely prioritized her safety, yet neither she nor other female athletes should have been subjected to such physical and psychological distress based on their sex,” she remarked on Twitter.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also weighed in, stating, “Athletes with male genetic characteristics should not participate in women’s events. From my perspective, it was not a fair competition.”
Prior to the fight, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced criticism for allowing Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting to compete in the women’s division. Lin is slated to face Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in a featherweight match in Paris on Friday.
Carini reiterated, “It is not for me to determine whether Khelif should have been barred. I did my job.”
The IOC’s statement confirmed that both Khelif and Lin had “adhered” to the entry regulations and had “been competing in international boxing for many years in the women’s category.” The IOC accused the International Boxing Association (IBA) of altering its gender policies mid-way through the 2023 world championships. “The current aggression against these athletes is based solely on this arbitrary decision, made without proper procedure, especially given their extensive history in top-level competition,” the IOC stated. “Such a practice undermines principles of good governance.
