Italian boxer Angela Carini quit her Olympic match against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at Paris 2024 after just 46 seconds.
The match had just started when Carini’s headgear came loose twice, leading her to leave the ring. She did not shake Khelif’s hand after Khelif was declared the winner.
Carini was emotional in the ring and explained, “I have always honoured my country with loyalty. This time I couldn’t fight anymore. So I ended the match.” She added, “I went into the ring to fight. A punch hurt too much, so I said enough. I’m leaving with my head held high.”
Khelif’s win comes amid controversy over her disqualification from the 2023 world championships for elevated testosterone levels. The International Boxing Association bans athletes with XY chromosomes from women’s events.
The Algerian Olympic Committee criticized “baseless propaganda” against Khelif. The International Olympic Committee confirmed all athletes at this year’s Olympics, including Khelif, passed eligibility requirements.