The Olympics boxing saga has taken a shock twist with beaten Italian Angela Carini set to be awarded a monetary bonus by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Carini abandoned her fight with Algerian rival Imane Khelif after just 46 seconds, citing pain in her nose following a flurry of punches, but initial comments about protecting her life spread widely amid misinformation surrounding Khelif’s gender.
Khelif entered her second Olympics after being disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the IBA for supposedly failing gender eligibility tests.
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The IBA has since been removed from running the sport after years of concerns with its governance, financial transparency and administration of competitions.
The International Olympic Committee took over and has repeatedly backed Khelif, speaking out against former IBA leaders and condemning the growing criticism.
Carini has since apologised to Khelif for the sad fallout, but the IBA have since released a statement saying they will award the Italian prize money as if she won the gold medal.
“I couldn’t look at her tears,” IBA president Umar Kremlev said in a statement.
“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.”
Carini will receive the equivalent of what the gold medallist will get, which will be US$100,000 (A$153,000). Of that prize, the athlete will get US$50,000 (A$76,000) with the rest divided evenly between the coach and the national federation.
The IBA also said they will support Sitora Turdibekova, who was beaten by Lin Yu-ting — another athlete that was deemed ineligible by the IBA.
Earlier on Saturday, Carini said she respected the IOC’s decision.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” Carini told Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”
Khelif will next fight Hungarian rival Anna Luca Hamori with the winner guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
Hamori has said she doesn’t fear her opponent and ignited the controversy with a social media post that she later deleted.
The image was of a young girl wearing boxing gloves, facing a muscled-up beast with horns.
“If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win,” Hamori said.