Angela Carini, the Italian boxer who was defeated by Algeria’s Imane Khelif in just 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics 2024, expressed her regret and apologized for not shaking hands amid ongoing gender controversy. Khelif, previously disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023 for failing to meet eligibility criteria, faced significant backlash on social media, where she was labeled a ‘biological man,’ sparking widespread debate.

In a tearful interview following her defeat, Carini stated that her frustration was due to her own loss, not directed at her opponent. “The controversy saddened me, and I apologize to Imane Khelif as well. It had nothing to do with her; she was there to fight just like I was,” Carini told Gazzetta dello Sport.

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Carini had initially ignored Khelif’s attempt to shake hands at the end of their 66kg bout but clarified, “It wasn’t intentional. I apologize to her and to everyone. My anger was from my loss, not against Imane Khelif. If I saw her again, I’d offer her a hug.”

Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, who will face Khelif on Saturday, had initially expressed a more conciliatory view but later wrote on Facebook, “In my opinion, it’s not fair for this contestant to compete in the women’s category.”

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Tunisian coach Samir Khlifi, whose boxer Khouloud Hlimi recently lost in Lin’s class, criticized the IBA’s decision to disqualify Khelif as “political.” He remarked, “I have known Khelif for a long time, from when she was a girl. The International Olympic Committee has given her justice by allowing her to compete.”