“I couldn't finish the game.” Angele Carini explains the decision to withdraw from the fight with Imane Khelif.

Written by: Sean Crose

The Paris Olympics have another big controversy on their hands – and this time the controversy comes courtesy of the sport of boxing. Competing in the women's boxing division on Thursday, Italy's Angele Carini stopped her fight with Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the first round. After being beaten, Carini ended the entire fight. The reason? Umgilwa said he had never been beaten so hard in his life. It would all seem like an impressive performance from Khalif if it weren't for the fact that, “Khalif's gender identity,” as NBC put it, “has recently been called into question.”

Gender in sports has long been controversial, and it was perhaps inevitable that the issue would come to a head in boxing, one of the most violent sports in the world. Khelif was denied the ability to fight as a woman as recently as last year. As The New York Times states: “Khelif was allowed to compete in the Olympics although she was denied other women's competitions because she did not meet the requirements to participate in women's competitions.”

“We must pay attention, in an effort to be non-discriminatory, that we are actually discriminatory,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni. “In these things what matters is your dedication, your head and your personality, but it also counts to have equal weapons.” Carini himself described the very short match against Khelif as physically difficult. “I felt a lot of pain in my nose,” he said, “and with the maturity of a boxer, I said 'enough,' because I didn't want to, I didn't want to, I couldn't finish the match.” game.”

Carini said he showed up to compete, but he wasn't shy about getting out of the fight in the first round. “I entered the ring to fight. I didn't give up, but one punch hurt too much so I said enough is enough. I will go out with my head held high,” he said. “After the second punch, after years of experience, I felt a strong pain in my nose. I said enough, because I didn't want to. I couldn't finish the fight after getting punched in the nose. So it was better to end it.”

Carini argued afterwards that he was in no position to judge Khelif. He said: “It might be my life for the rest of my life, but I had to save my life at that time.” After the victory over Carini, Khelif is looking forward. “I'm here for the gold,” said the fighter British Broadcasting Corporation. “I fight with everyone.” Celebrities like mutli division champion Claressa Shields, and author JK Rowling are not too happy that Khelif is allowed to fight in the women's division.

“I understand his (Carini's) trauma,” said Sheild Fox News, “but it must not be ruined because of a man. And I think the Olympics really kicked the ball.”