A boxer deemed a ‘biological male’ today won against an Italian woman in one of the most controversial Olympic bouts ever.
The fight took 46 seconds and her Italian opponent threw her helmet onto the floor as the fight was abandoned.
She refused the handshake, fell to the canvas sobbing as the emotional Italian broke down in tears after just two punches.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, 25, fought Italy‘s Angela Carini, 25 despite being banned from a major boxing contest before the Olympics.
After the match was stopped, the referee raised Khelif’s hand in the air. But a visibly furious Carini yanked her hand away from the fight official before exiting the ring without shaking her opponent’s hand.
Ignoring the Algerian, the Italian fighter then dropped to her knees and burst into tears as she said she had never felt such strong blows in a contest before.
Speaking after the match, the heartbroken Italian said: ‘I have always honoured my country with loyalty. This time I didn’t succeed…
