To the Olympics, where a rather contentious boxing match has come to an abrupt end. The sport came under the spotlight after it emerged that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif had been allowed to compete in the women’s boxing category in 2024 Paris Olympics despite, um, being thrown out of the women’s world championships after failing a sex test. Good heavens…
Today, Khelif was allowed to fight Italy’s Angela Carini – but the match didn’t even last a minute. After receiving a harsh blow to her face, Carini asked for time out – before abandoning the match altogether just 46 seconds in. Breaking down in tears after the referee signalled that Khelif had won, Carini went on to give an emotional statement to reporters. Telling the Telegraph she had never been punched so hard, the Italian boxer told the press:
I wasn’t able to finish the match, I felt a strong pain to my nose and I said [to myself] for the experience that I have and the maturity as a woman that I have, I hope my nation won’t take it badly, I hope my dad won’t take it badly – but I stopped, I said stop for myself.
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