Angela Carini of Italy, who was involved in a controversial bout with Algeria’s Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics, has issued an apology to her opponent. The bout, which caused widespread debate, saw Carini withdraw moments into the fight, leading to reactions from global figures such as former US President Donald Trump and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Imane Khelif’s eligibility has been under the spotlight since she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships due to unspecified eligibility tests for women’s competition by the now-banned International Boxing Association. The ambiguity surrounding these tests has added to the controversy.
Khelif, assigned female at birth, holds a passport that meets the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) criteria for boxing eligibility, a point of contention amidst the ongoing dispute between the sport’s governing body and the IOC.
Carini has now publicly expressed remorse for her actions during the bout. She told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, “I want to apologize to Khelif for my behavior after the fight. The IOC deemed her eligible to compete, and I respect their decision.”
During the fight, Carini received a punch to the face within the first 30 seconds, prompting her to seek her coach’s assistance in adjusting her headgear. After briefly resuming, she returned to her corner and chose to stop the fight, later telling BBC Sport that she “had to preserve her life” at that moment.
Carini further elaborated to the Italian newspaper, expressing a willingness to “embrace” Khelif if they met again. “It wasn’t my intention to act as I did. I want to apologize to her and everyone else. My frustration stemmed from my Olympic hopes being dashed,” she added.
The IOC has supported Khelif in the aftermath of the controversial bout, emphasizing that everyone should be allowed to participate in sports “without discrimination.” In their statement, the IOC expressed disappointment over the treatment of Khelif and Taiwan’s double world champion Lin Yu-ting, noting that both athletes had been competing at top levels for many years.
