Paris — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's 46-second win at the Paris Olympics on Thursday sparked a furious row about gender eligibility rules, with public figures from around the world weighing in on the controversy.
Italian boxer Angela Carini retired hurt and shrugged off attempts by Khelif to shake her hand, before collapsing to her knees and sobbing uncontrollably in the middle of the ring.
Italy's Angela Carini reacts during her women's 66kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match against Algeria's Imane Khelif during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 1, 2024. AFP PHOTO
Khelif advanced to the quarter-finals of the women's 66kg category after unloading two strong punches to the face of Carini, who had blood on her shorts and was unable to carry on because of a badly hurt nose.
"My nose started dripping (with blood) from the first hit," said the distressed Carini, who also broke down in tears when talking to reporters.
The 25-year-old sobbed: "I fought very often in the national team. I train with my brother. I've always fought against men, but I felt too much pain today."
Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who fights on Friday at 57kg, were disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi run by the International Boxing Association (IBA) but deemed eligible to box in the women's competition in Paris.
Both boxers also competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.