One day after igniting a major controversy by quitting her Olympic boxing match against Algeria’s Imane Khelif, Italy’s Angela Carini has issued an apology.
Carini ended the fight abruptly after taking a single punch, claiming she had broken her nose. She expressed her frustration and questioned Khelif’s eligibility, citing the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to disqualify Khelif at the 2023 World Championships over gender-related concerns.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since clarified that Khelif, who is a cis woman, meets all the standards to compete in the women’s event. In light of this, Carini is now retracting her earlier statements and offering an apology.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Carini expressed her regret over the controversy. “All this controversy makes me sad,” she said. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”
Carini also acknowledged her mistake in refusing to shake Khelif’s hand after the fight, something she now deeply regrets. “It wasn’t something I intended to do,” she admitted. “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”
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Italian politician Alessandra Mussolini also defended Khelif, tweeting, “The woman does not cry and retreat, but fights and wins. Do you know how many women in many dangerous circumstances would like to be like the Algerian athlete, myself included.”
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams reaffirmed the committee’s stance on Khelif, stating, “The Algerian boxer was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport.”
Despite the ongoing controversy, Khelif’s next opponent, Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, remains unfazed by the media frenzy. “I’m not scared,” she said. “I don’t care about the press story and social media. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
Hamori is focused on her preparation and aims to avoid distractions. “I’m trying not to use my phone before the fight,” she explained. “I don’t want to care about the comments or the story or the news. I just want to stay focused on myself. I did it before my last two fights, so I think this is the key, and we will see.”
As the debate continues, it is clear that the IOC’s decision will be scrutinized and discussed, but athletes like Hamori are determined to stay focused on their performance in the ring, putting the controversy aside.
