The Italian boxer who lost to female fighter Imane Khelif who “failed the gender test” will receive a cash prize, equivalent to that of an Olympic champion, from the International Boxing Association (IBA), its president confirmed.
Angela Carini has withdrawn from her Olympic women’s welterweight bout against Algeria’s Khelif in tears just 46 seconds after being hit twice.
The Italian later revealed that her decision to abandon the fight was necessary to “preserve my life”, after explaining that she had “never felt a blow” like the one inflicted on her by Khelif.
Her opponent’s participation in the games has been a source of contention given that she was disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year and her victory on Thursday created further controversy, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) subsequently defending her right to compete.
And now the IBA, which banned Khelif and her “failed gender test” wrestling partner Lin Yu Ting from the championships, has revealed they will pay Carini the top level of prize money despite a first-round loss.
Angela Carini will receive a cash prize equivalent to that of an Olympic champion from the International Boxing Association (IBA)
Carini pulled out of her Olympic women’s welterweight bout against Imane Khelif (left) in tears after just 46 seconds.
Now the IBA, headed by president Umar Kremlev, has revealed that they will pay Carini the maximum level of prize money despite a first-round loss.
The Italian will pocket $50,000, while her national federation and coach will receive $25,000 each.
“I couldn’t see her tears,” said IBA President Umar Kremlev.
‘I am not indifferent to these types of situations and I can assure you that we will protect each boxer.
“I don’t understand why they’re eliminating women’s boxing. For safety reasons, only able-bodied athletes should be allowed to compete in the ring.”
Kremlev added that his organisation will also “support” Uzbek fighter Sitora Turdibekova after she lost unanimously to Lin yesterday.
Since the fight, Carini joined those expressing sympathy towards Khelif and admitted he had some regrets about how he acted after the fight, which included refusing to shake his opponent’s hand.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” he told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I feel sorry for my opponent too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”
Khelif’s (left) victory was highly controversial after she was disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year due to her elevated testosterone levels.
Carini hinted that he regretted refusing to shake Khelif’s hand after the fight.
Carini received two strong blows and said that his withdrawal was necessary to “preserve my life”
“I didn’t mean to not shake hands,” Carini said.
“I actually want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was upset that my Olympics were gone.”
“I would hug her (if I met her again).”
Carini was hit twice by Khelif in the first round of their women’s welterweight fight in Paris.
The blows appeared to rip the Italian boxer’s chin strap off, and she headed to her corner.
Carini returned to the center of the ring and abandoned the fight, leading to Khelif being declared the winner.
The Italian boxer, who had said before the fight that she “could only adapt to the rules of the Olympic Games”, was later seen crying in the centre of the ring after the abrupt conclusion of the fight.
After being cleared to compete in Paris alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, the Olympic website said Khelif had been disqualified by the IBA when her elevated testosterone levels did not meet eligibility criteria.
Uzbek boxer Sitora Turdibekova was seen crying after losing to Lin Yu-Ting
Lin scored a unanimous decision victory over Turdibekova (right) at the North Paris Arena
Kremlev, who organised the contest, said other DNA tests had “proved that they had XY chromosomes” – in short, that they had been deemed “biologically male”.
On the eve of Thursday’s fight between Khelif and Carini, the IBA released a statement clarifying why the Algerian and Yu-Tin had been disqualified from last year’s World Championships.
He cited a “meticulous” review that “was extremely important and necessary to maintain the level of impartiality and the highest integrity of the competition.”
The letter adds that no testosterone tests were conducted, but rather “an independent and recognised test, the details of which are being kept confidential”. The test “conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other competitors”.
The IBA said the ban was also based on tests conducted at the 2022 World Boxing Championships and said, significantly, that Khelif withdrew an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, making the decision legally binding.
In a critique of the IOC, they “expressed concerns about the inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by other sports organisations, including those overseeing the Olympic Games.”
“The IOC’s different regulations on these matters raise serious questions about competitive fairness and athlete safety,” they added.
Turdibekova struggled to contain her emotions as the judges’ scores were read out.
Carini revealed that she would hug Khelif if they met again in the future.
Khelief has always competed in women’s boxing, and the IOC was forced to defend her further in a statement on Friday.
“The Algerian boxer was born a woman, was registered as a woman, lived her life as a woman, boxed as a woman and has a female passport,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.
Khelif will now face Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the Olympic quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.