Female Italian Boxer Quits Match In Tears After 46 Seconds Against Biological Male Who Failed Gender Eligibility Test

In a dramatic turn of events, Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her Olympic match against Algeria's Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the bout.

The women’s 66 kilogram bout in Paris was abruptly stopped after Khelif, a biological male, delivered the first significant punch against her.

Carini knelt down in the ring, overwhelmed with tears, and refused to shake Khelif's hand.

Distressed, Carini was heard telling her coach, "It's not right, it's not right!" before exiting the arena, reports said. According to reports from The Telegraph and BBC, the 25-year-old appeared to have suffered a suspected broken nose and later told reporters she had never felt such a powerful punch in her career.

Khelif, also 25, chose not to comment after the match.

In 2023, Khelif was disqualified from the World Championships in New Delhi after failing a gender eligibility test, causing her participation in the Paris Olympics to become a controversial issue.

Many, including boxers and coaches worldwide, had raised questions over her participation. The inclusion of biological males in women’s sports has been a controversial issue, sparking debates over fairness and competitive integrity.