Paris, August 2: Italy’s Angela Carini was left in tears after abandoning her Round of 16 bout against Algeria’s Imane Khelif in the 66kg boxing category at the Paris Olympics. The bout lasted a mere 46 seconds before Carini, visibly distressed, chose to end the fight, citing the hardest punches she has ever experienced.

An emotional Carini addressed the media post-match, saying, “I have always honored my country with loyalty. This time I didn’t succeed because I couldn’t fight anymore. I put an end to the match because after the second blow, I felt a strong pain in my nose.”

The controversy surrounding the bout intensified due to Khelif’s previous disqualification from the 2023 World Championships for failing the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) gender test. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) permitted Khelif to compete in the Paris Olympics, a decision that has sparked significant backlash on social media and from prominent sports figures.

Carini, with tears in her eyes, defended her decision to abandon the match, emphasizing her maturity and instinct as a seasoned boxer. “It’s not a surrender but having the maturity to stop,” she explained, showing the physical toll the bout had taken on her.

The incident has ignited a firestorm of criticism towards the Olympic authorities for allowing Khelif to compete. Many have questioned the IOC’s decision, pointing to the disqualification at the World Championships as a crucial factor that should have been considered.

Khelif, who won a silver medal at the 2022 World Championship, was disqualified just hours before her gold medal bout in New Delhi last year. Despite the IBA’s ruling, the IOC’s green light for Khelif’s participation in Paris has now become a focal point of controversy.

Carini’s exit from the ring and her subsequent press conference have only fueled the debate further, with calls for stricter adherence to eligibility criteria and a review of the decisions made by the Olympic governing bodies.