Boxer who walked out of fight after 46 seconds ‘wants to apologise’ to Imane Khelif

There has been huge controversy.

Yesterday, the match was abandoned by Carini after 46 seconds, with a massive backlash following online.

Carini refused to shake her opponents hand and knelt in the ring and cried following the conclusion of the fight.

It was previously revealed that Khelif failed an International Boxing Association test regarding gender eligibility in 2023.

Neither Khelif nor Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting – another fighter who was disqualified from last year’s World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests – have ever identified as male, transgender, or as intersex.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which runs the Olympic boxing events, has different eligibility tests to those run for the World Championships.

Now, Carini has spoken to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport on the post-match controversy: "All this controversy makes me sad.

"I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision."

Then Carini discussed her decision not to shake hands with Khelif:  "It wasn't something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke."

Furthermore, she said she would 'embrace' Khelif if they were to cross paths again.