Italian boxer Angela Carini has apologised for the “controversy” surrounding her Olympics defeat to Imane Khelif.
The Italian abandoned her opening round bout with the Algerian after just 46 seconds. She was spotted in tears and refused to shake Khelif’s hand.
The fight has triggered widespread debate about Khelif’s eligibility to fight at the games. She was disqualified by the IBA last year after failing to meet the governing bodies’ eligibility criteria.
It was then revealed that she had failed a testosterone test but Olympic rules dictated she could still fight in Paris. Beaten opponent Carini has now spoken out on the ongoing row and issued an apology to Khelif, especially after spurning her post-fight handshake.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” Carini said. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. … If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”
“It wasn’t something I intended to do [ignoring the handshake],” Carini added. “Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.”
Carini’s fresh take on her fight with Khelif comes just days after her emotional words in the aftermath of her defeat. She had previously claimed that she feared for her health - one of the prime reasons why she chose to abandon the fight.
"I wasn't able to finish the match. I felt a strong pain to my nose and I said [to myself] for the experience that I have and the maturity as a woman that I have, I said I hope my nation won't take it badly, I hope my dad won't take it badly - but I stopped, I said stop for myself," she told BBC Sport immediately after the fight.
"It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment. I didn't have fear, I don't fear the ring. I don't fear taking the blows. But this time there's an end for everything, and I put an end to this match, because I wasn't able to [continue]."
Khelif has been at the heart of intense debate since her original fight with Carini. In the meantime, she is preparing to take on Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori as she continues her Olympic journey.
Speaking ahead of the fight, Hamori said: "I'm not scared. I don't care about the press story and social media. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win."
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