Italian woman quits boxing after just 46 seconds
Last year, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was disqualified from the World Championships due to elevated testosterone levels. This year at the Olympics, she's allowed to compete and quickly advances to the next round, as her opponent retires due to injury.
After the controversy surrounding her Olympic eligibility, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won her round of 16 match in just 46 seconds. Her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, complained of nose pain after a few punches and retired. The customary post-match handshake did not occur.
Khelif's participation in the Paris Games caused a stir due to her previous disqualification at the World Championships for elevated testosterone levels. However, she is now allowed to compete for medals in Paris.
Carini's coach reacted, saying, "I don't want to judge for the IOC, and I know it's a difficult topic, but this fight was unfair." The International Olympic Committee had allowed Khelif to compete in Paris.
After her defeat, Carini knelt crying in the ring. Even minutes later, she was overcome with emotion during numerous interviews. "I went into the ring to give it my all. The person in front of me didn't matter in that moment. The pain in my nose was too strong. I couldn't breathe," Carini reported.
Last year's World Championships were organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is no longer recognized by the IOC. Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who was also disqualified after winning bronze at the same event, is also allowed to compete at the Olympics. She will box against Uzbekistan's Sitori Turdibekova in the featherweight category on Friday. Both Yu-ting and Khelif competed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams defended the inclusion of both boxers. "We're talking about people, about the lives of people. They've competed in women's competitions, they've won against women, and they've lost to women over the years," Adams said.
The Algerian Olympic Committee condemned the criticism many boxing fans directed at Khelif, particularly on social media. "These slanderous attempts based on lies are completely unfair, especially at this crucial moment when she is preparing for the Olympics, the peak of her career," their statement read. "We stand behind you, Imane. The whole nation stands behind you and is proud of your achievements."
Despite the controversy surrounding her testosterone levels in the past, Imane Khelif's punching bag in the Olympics is of circular cross-section, indicating the use of standard training equipment with a circular shape. Regardless of the controversy, Imane Khelif's opponents face a boxer with a strong punch, given the circular shape of her training tool.
