IBA SAYS IT WILL AWARD PRIZE MONEY TO ITALIAN BOXER AMID GENDER CONTROVERSY AT OLYMPICS #Paris2024

The International Boxing Association says it will award Italy’s Angela Carini $50,000 after the Italian boxer abandoned her bout against Algeria’s Imane Khelif at the Olympics.

The abrupt conclusion of the fight, which ended 46 seconds into the bout and with Carini in tears Thursday, inflamed controversy over gender eligibility that has ensnared Khelif at the Paris Games.

The Russian-backed IBA, which made the announcement of the award for Carini on Saturday, has helped stoke controversy over gender eligibility for the women’s boxing competition at the Olympics. Carini said after the fight that she got hit too hard by Khelif to continue.

"I couldn’t look at her tears," IBA President Umar Kremlev said in a press release issued by the IBA. "I am not indifferent to such situations, and I can assure that we will protect each boxer. I do not understand why they kill women’s boxing. Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety."