Olympic Boxer Withdraws in Tears After Losing to Opponent Who Failed Gender Test

Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her Olympic match in tears after a challenging fight against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Carini, 25, ended the bout just 46 seconds in after sustaining two powerful punches that left her visibly shaken. The match has sparked controversy because Khelif, who was disqualified from the Women's World Championship in 2023, had failed testosterone and gender eligibility tests.

Carini faced Khelif in a fight that was expected to be competitive, but it quickly turned one-sided after a punch from Khelif “dislodged her chinstrap and a second smashed against her chin and bloodied her shorts,” as reported by The Guardian. This led to Carini deciding to end the match for her health and safety.

After the match, a tearful Carini spoke about her motivation and her father's influence on her career. "I want to show you something. I don’t know if you can hear; he’s my father,” she said, holding up a phone with a photo of her father. "I did the ‘last kilometer’ because one day, I felt tired. Before Tokyo, I felt tired. I said, ‘Dad, I’m tired, the training is intense, but I won’t give up.’ He said to me, ‘Angelina, a champion is a bit like cycling; the champion, when they see the last kilometer, you know what they do? They pedal even harder. So you reach that last kilometer and pedal. Go all the way, because I’ll always be with you.’ And so I did. Until the end, I fought with blood in my eyes because I wanted this victory at all costs just for my father.”

“I am heartbroken,” Carini added. “I went to the ring to honor my father. I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this. … I got into the ring to fight. I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m going out with my head held high.”

She further explained her decision to withdraw, saying, "After the second punch, after years of experience, I felt a strong pain in the nose. I said enough, because I didn’t want. I couldn’t finish the fight after the punch to the nose. So it was better to put an end to it. I am in pieces because I am a fighter; they taught me to be a warrior. I have always tried to behave with honor; I have always represented my country with loyalty. This time I didn’t manage to because I couldn’t fight anymore."

Despite the controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility, Carini maintained her fighter's spirit and expressed no regrets about facing her opponent. "I am not one that gives in easily," Carini said when asked if she should have eschewed fighting the Algerian. "No, even if they had said that we wouldn’t fight, I would never have accepted it. I have a warrior’s mentality. This time I didn’t manage. I felt too much pain on my nose. I said enough. It’s not a defeat for me, for me if you go in the ring you have already won, regardless of everything else."

Khelif, who was previously disqualified due to failing gender tests that revealed XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels, expressed confidence after the match. “I am here for gold,” Khelif told the BBC. “I will fight anybody. I will fight them all.”

The match has reignited discussions about the fairness of allowing athletes with male genetic characteristics to compete in women’s sports. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced her opinion on the issue, stating, "I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions. And not because you want to discriminate against someone, but to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms. I was emotional yesterday when she wrote ‘I will fight’ because the dedication, the head, the character, surely also play a role in these things. But then it also matters to be able to compete on equal grounds and from my point of view it was not an even contest.”

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over gender eligibility in sports and the importance of ensuring fair competition for all athletes.

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