‘I want to apologise to her’: Angela Carini is saddened by backlash towards Imane Khelif

Italian Olympics boxer Angela Carini has issued a formal apology to her opponent Imane Khelif following their boxing match on Thursday. After just 46 seconds Angela Carini decided to end the fight after she took a punch to the face from fellow female Olympic boxer Imane Khelif.

Following the event Angela was heard complaining to her coach that “it’s not fair” and “it hurts like hell” before the fight was called off and Imane was declared the winner. She then refused to shake the Armenian’s hand after it was raised by the referee,  which goes against Olympic tradition and respect in boxing.

Via Blondet Eliot/ABACA/Shutterstock

Imane’s inclusion is controversial as she was not allowed to compete in the women’s world championships last year after failing testosterone and gender eligibility tests. She was born female and is cisgender, and her opponent Angela Carini has now apologised for the “controversy” she has caused Imane.

Numerous high profile figures such as JK Rowling, Elon Musk and Piers Morgan have now been falsely calling the boxer Imane Khelif a man, despite the fact she was born female.

She told AP: “All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

As for why she didn’t shake her opponent’s hand, she explained: “It wasn’t something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.’

Via Blondet Eliot/ABACA/Shutterstock

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In a statement on the controversy surrounding female boxer Imane Khelif and the rhetoric online, the Paris Olympics 2024 boxing unit and the IOC released a joint statement. Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.

“All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.

“We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two 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.

“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.

“The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.”

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Featured image via Blondet Eliot/ABACA/Shutterstock.