فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Italian boxer Angela Carini’s withdrawal from the Paris Olympic Games competitions has sparked widespread controversy after she refused to face her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif in the round of 16 due to a dispute over testosterone hormone levels.
In a striking development, the International Boxing Association announced on Saturday that it will award Carini a financial prize “as if she were an Olympic champion.” The association’s president, Russian Umar Kremlev, stated: “I couldn’t bear to see her tears… I cannot remain indifferent to such situations.” He added: “Only qualified athletes should compete in the ring, for their safety.”
It’s worth noting that Kremlev himself was excluded by the International Olympic Committee in 2023.
In statements to the Italian newspaper “La Gazzetta dello Sport,” Carini apologized for not congratulating her Algerian opponent, saying: “I was angry because my participation in the Olympics ended, but I have nothing against Imane Khelif. On the contrary, if I see her again, I will hug her.” She added: “All this controversy saddened me, and I’m sorry for my opponent too. It has nothing to do with her. She was here like me to compete.”
Meanwhile, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif will continue her journey in the tournament, facing Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday in the 66 kg weight class, knowing that a win will guarantee her an Olympic medal.
The International Boxing Association indicated that gold medal winners will receive a financial prize of 100,000 dollars, including 25,000 dollars for the national federation and the same amount for the coach.
This incident has sparked a wide debate about competition rules in Olympic sports and how to deal with hormone and doping issues in international sports competitions.
