Angela Carini is trying to quell the furor surrounding Imane Kherif.
The Italian boxer, whose loss to Kherif by 46 seconds on Thursday sparked an Olympic debate over the gender of his Algerian opponent, apologized on Friday.
“These disputes make me sad,” Carini told the Italian newspaper. Gazzetta dello Sport“I also feel sorry for my opponent. If the IOC says she can compete, I will respect that decision.”
Carini withdrew from his 66kg qualifying bout after being punched in the face by Kheriff, then took to his knees in tears in the ring and called the bout “unfair”.
This has deepened doubts about Kherif’s status – she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the Russia-led International Boxing Federation over claims that she has XY chromosomes and high testosterone levels.
Khelif is recognised as a woman by the IOC.
“Algerian boxers are born as women, registered as women, live their lives as women, box as women and hold women’s passports,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said on Friday.
Italy’s Angela Carini kneels in the ring after abandoning her bout against Algeria’s Imane Kherif. AP
The controversy shows no signs of abating ahead of Herriv’s next match on Saturday against Hungary’s Anna-Luka Hamori.
“I’m not scared,” Hamori told reporters after beating Australia’s Marissa Williamson-Poelman. “I don’t care about the press, I don’t care about social media. If I win against a man, it’s a bigger win for me.”
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Nevertheless, the Hungarian Boxing Federation has filed a letter of protest with the IOC and the Hungarian Olympic Committee over the quarter-final and is considering legally challenging Helib’s status.
Kalini, meanwhile, regrets that his Olympic dream ended so early, especially since he didn’t get to shake Kheriff’s hand after the match.
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“That was not my intention,” Carini said. “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was upset because my Olympics were gone.”
She added that if she and Kherif ever met again, Carini would “embrace” her.
