The International Boxing Association (IBA) has committed to awarding prize money to Italy’s Angela Carini following her controversial 46-second defeat at the Paris 2024 Olympics to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who is at the center of a gender eligibility dispute that has shaken the sport.
Carini ended the bout after receiving two powerful punches to the face from Khelif. She refused to shake hands with her opponent and collapsed to the canvas in tears. The match has sparked debate due to Khelif’s previous disqualification by the IBA during last year’s world championship for failing unspecified gender eligibility tests.
There is no indication that Khelif, who has competed in women’s boxing for years, including the Tokyo Olympics, identifies as anything other than a woman. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared her to compete in the Paris Games, using the gender stated on her passport as their criterion for eligibility.
Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting appear to be caught in the conflict between the IBA and the IOC, which expelled the boxing organization from the Olympic movement over financial and ethical issues.
Reflecting on Carini’s reaction, IBA President Umar Kremlev said, “I couldn’t look at her tears. I am not indifferent to such situations, and I can assure you that we will protect each boxer. I do not understand why they kill women’s boxing. Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety.”
The IBA announced it would compensate Carini with prize money “as if she were an Olympic champion.” The association has stated it is awarding all gold medalists $100,000, with $25,000 allocated to the national federation and $25,000 to the coach. The exact amount Carini will receive is not yet clear, and the IBA has not responded to requests for comment.
Carini has since apologized for not congratulating her opponent. “All the controversy made me sad, and I’m sorry for my opponent too. It’s nothing to do with her. She was here like me to fight,” she told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I was angry because my Olympics had just gone up in smoke, but I’ve nothing against Imane Khelif. On the contrary, if I saw her again, I’d give her a hug,” she added.
Khelif is set to compete later in the women’s 66kg quarter-final against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori, with a victory ensuring her a medal, as all semi-finalists receive at least bronze.
