Algerian boxer Iman Khalif continues to stir controversy in the sports and international community due to accusations that she is in fact a "man" and that her competition in a women's competition at the Olympics is unfair.
The Algerian boxer had stirred controversy a few days ago after her victory over Italian Angela Carini, after the latter withdrew, indicating that she "had never been subjected to such punches in her life."
Carini's withdrawal opened the Iman Khalif file globally, and fierce attacks against her began, starting with billionaire Elon Musk, who criticized her participation with women, to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Italian apology
However, Italian boxer Angela Carini apologized on Friday, saying that the emotions of the moment got the better of her after her loss in Olympic boxing to Algerian Iman Khalif.
Carini said that she regretted not shaking hands with the victor Khalif after she withdrew after 46 seconds of her fight at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Carini told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "This was not something I intended to do."
"Actually, I want to apologise to her and to everyone. I was angry that the Olympic fight I participated in went down the drain. I have nothing against Khalif. In fact, if I meet her again, I will hug her," she added.
Khalif's win was tainted by controversy over her exclusion from the 2023 AIBA world boxing championships for failing a gender eligibility test, the details of which have not been disclosed.
AIBA president Omar Karimlev said Khalif and another female boxer from Taiwan had XY chromosomes, which are normally found in males, following separate laboratory tests.
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