Angela Carini, who quit Olympics fight after 46 seconds, wants to apologise to Imane Khelif
Angela Carini says she wants to apologise to Imane Khelif for her reaction after withdrawing from their controversial Olympics fight.
Italian Carini ended the 66kg last 16 bout against Algerian Khelif, who previously failed a gender test by the IBA [International Boxing Association], after just 46 seconds.
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After signalling to her corner to stop the fight, she was reduced to tears and said after she was hit harder than she'd ever been hit before.
Khelif's inclusion has proven controversial at this summer's Olympics but the IOC [International Olympic Committee], who run the Olympics boxing as opposed to the IBA, released a statement that defended her participation.
Carini snubbed her opponent's handshake at the end of the fight too but has now expressed her sadness over the controversy.
Speaking to Italian newspaper , she said: "All this controversy makes me sad.
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"I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision."
"It wasn't something I intended to do," she added regarding her choice to not shake hands.
"Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke."
Carini then also said that she would embrace Khelif if they were to meet again.
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The Algerian is one of two fighters, alongside Taiwan's Ling Yu-ting, who the IOC cleared to fight in the women's boxing at the 2024 Olympics despite failing a gender test.
IBA president Umar Kremlev said that DNA tests had 'proved they had XY chromosomes and were thus excluded' from the Women's World Boxing Championship in India last year.
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After Carini lost to Khelif, she said: "It hurt so much. I am heartbroken. I went to the ring to honour 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.
"After the second blow, and after years of experience in the ring and a lifetime of fighting, I felt extreme pain in my nose. I said, 'enough' because I didn't want to... I couldn't carry on in the match. I thought maybe it was better that I brought an end to the match.
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"I went to my corner and raised my hand and said I'd had enough because my nose hurt so much.
"I've always gone into the ring with honour, I've always fought for my country, loyally, but this time I couldn't as I wasn't able to fight anymore."
Carini was assessed by medical staff after suffering a damaged nose, with Khelif next facing Anna Luca of Hungary on Saturday.
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