Angela Carini is not the first boxer to refuse to compete against an opponent due to a gender controversy

By Marie Amani

Modified Aug 02, 2024 15:15 GMT

The Paris Olympics saw an unexpected turn of events on Thursday afternoon as Italian boxer Angela Carini conceded her match against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Khelif was awarded the win in the women’s welterweight when Carini quit just 46 seconds after the match started.

It has now emerged that in 2023, Khelif failed a gender eligibility test and was eliminated from the women’s World Championships in New Delhi.

The boxing match between Khelif and Carini has gained a lot of attention, with many calling out the Paris Olympics organizers for allowing such a situation.

Angela Carini pulls out of match with Algeria's Imane Khelif at Paris Olympics - Source: Getty

As quoted by the Mirror, Carini quit the match after two punches, claiming that she had never been hit that hard before.

"After the second punch I couldn't breathe anymore. I went to my coach and said 'enough' because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn't feel like fighting anymore," Carini said.

The Algerian Olympic Committee sided with Khelif, claiming that the boxer should not be attacked since she is building her career on the Olympic stage.

"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics," Algeria's Olympic committee said in a statement.

In 2023, Katia Bissonnette pulled out of her match against a transgender opponent

Katia Bissonnette withdrew from a Canadian championship match when she learned that her opponent in the bout was transgender (Source: Katia Bissonnette X handle)

Katia Bissonnette had withdrawn from a Canadian championship in 2023 after it came to her attention that her opponent was transgender.

Bissonnette pulled out of the match with Mya Walmsley, as the latter was a trans woman. Bissonnette decided not to compete against Walmsley an hour before the championship. After her withdrawal, Walmsley was awarded the win.

Walmsley felt Bissonnette's behavior puts athletes at risk of exclusion.

"This kind of behavior puts athletes at risk of being excluded or receiving personal attacks based on hearsay. I am afraid that this type of accusation could eventually be used to delegitimize athletes in the women's category, and justify arbitrary and invasive regulations," she said in a statement. (via Dailymail)