IBA to award prize money to Italy’s Carini despite loss to Algeria’s Khelif

PARIS: The International Boxing Association (IBA) will award Italy’s Angela Carini, who lost her welterweight round-of-16 bout against Algerian Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics in 46 seconds on Thursday, $50,000 in prize money, Reuters reported on Friday.

Carini pulled out in the first round after the Algerian, who is at the heart of a gender row, pummelled the Italian with a barrage of punches.

The IBA, which was stripped of its international recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year, said Carini would receive $50,000, her federation a further $25,000 and her coach an additional $25,000.

“I do not understand why they killed women’s boxing,” IBA President Umar Kremlev said. “Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety. I could not look at her tears.”

Algeria’s Khelif, and Taiwan double world champion Lin Yu-ting, were cleared to compete in Paris despite being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing IBA eligibility rules that prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events.

The IOC last year stripped the IBA of its status as boxing’s governing body over governance issues and took charge of the Paris 2024 boxing competition itself, but now finds itself at the center of a row over the pair’s participation.

Welterweight Khelif next takes on Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori.