Irish boxer who beat Imane Khelif in 2022 speaks out on Paris Olympics controversy

An Irish boxer who previously fought Algeria's Imane Khelif has given her thoughts on the controversy that continues to be a huge talking point at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Angela Carini, 25, abandoned her bout against Khelif on Thursday, just 46 seconds into their Olympic welterweight match-up.

The Italian, who said she had 'never been hit so hard' in her life, was punched twice by Khelif in the opening round, which left her with a suspected broken nose.

Carini tried to continue following a brief timeout but after speaking to her coaches, she returned to the fight and was immediately caught again.

She proceeded to raise her glove again to the referee, officially signalling her decision to withdraw. "I wasn’t able to finish the match," she told the BBC.

"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."

The Algerian attempted to embrace Carini on two occasions but was dismissed, with Carini refusing to shake her opponent's hand before leaving the ring in tears.

Controversy has surrounded the occasion in Paris, given that Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.

Now, a boxer who beat Khelif back in 2022 has jumped to her defence.

Amy Broadhurst, an Irish boxer who competed for Team GB in the Paris Olympics, previously fought and won against Khelif in the final of the 2022 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships.

Before Khelif's victory over Carini, Broadhurst made her feelings clear.

"Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’.

"I thinks it’s the way she was born and that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been [beaten] by nine females before says it all."

On Wednesday, Algeria's Olympic Committee (COA) issued a public statement condemning "baseless" attacks on Khelif after questions were raised over her participation at the Olympics.

The statement read: "COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.

"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics.

"The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion."