Italian boxer Angela Carini on Friday has defended her Algerian competitor Imane Khelif following unsubstantiated rumors around Khelif’s gender.
Carini apologized for not shaking hands with Khelif after the match that lasted 46 seconds on Thursday, before Carini withdrew from the competition in tears – later stating that she withdrew out of fear as she had never been hit that hard before.
According to the BBC, the Italian boxer said in an interview that the controversy over Khelif made her feel sad and apologize.
“This was not what I intended to do, in fact I want to apologize to her and to everyone else, I was angry because my chance at the Olympics was lost, but giving up the fight was a mature step” she said.
She added, “I am sorry for her, if the Olympic Committee says she can fight, I respect this decision, and if I meet Emane Khelif again, I will hug her.”
The Olympic Committee steps in
The Russian-led International Boxing Association, which conducted tests last year, stated that Khelif failed to meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the women’s competition, as stipulated in the International Boxing Association regulations.
However, Khelif has always competed in the women’s category, and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a female athlete.
The spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee, Mark Adams, assured that the Algerian boxer was born female, registered as female, lived her life as female, practiced boxing as female, and has a female passport.
Controversy over Khelif’s gender
Khelif qualified for the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics in boxing, after defeating Carini in a match that lasted only 46 seconds before the latter withdrew.
The president of the International Boxing Association then accused Khelif and another female boxer of having male gender chromosomes, causing outrage and demands that she be dropped from the Olympics.
