Olympics gender row boxer Imane Khelif claims Angela Carini ‘knew her well after training at the same gym’ – and claims the Italian is using ‘smear campaign to throw her off’ after controversial 46-second victory

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has hit out at Italy’s Olympics boxing team for ‘trying to weaken her’ after revealing Paris 2024 opening round opponent Angela Carini knows her well from previous training camps.

Khelif and Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting have been at the centre of a ‘gender row’ controversy at the Olympics after both were given the green light to compete despite previously allegedly failing gender eligibility tests at last year’s world championships.

The issue was thrust into the Olympic limelight when Khelif forced Carini to quit in the opening round of their women’s welterweight bout in Paris last week.

Italy boxer Carini withdrew from the fight after just 46 seconds as she explained she had feared for her safety in the ring after being hit with two huge punches in the opening exchanges.

The fallout from the contest has seen the IOC staunchly defend their decision to allow both Khelif and Yu-ting the chance to compete for Olympic medals in women’s boxing.

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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has hit out at the Italian Olympics team for ‘trying to weaken her’

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Italian boxer Angela Carini was left heartbroken after being beaten by Khelif

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Khelif emerged as victor in their clash after Carini withdrew just 46 seconds into the fight

The Algeria Olympic Committee has also hit back at criticism over Khelif’s eligibility after Carini was left in floods of tears following her defeat against the title hopeful in Paris and refused to shake hands afterwards.

Now, Khelif has revealed how despite their complaints, the Italian boxing team has known her since she was young and accused them of using her biological status to ‘weaken’ her achievements.

‘The Italian boxer knows me well for years, as I have always gone to Italy to train as a member of the national team,’ Khelif told SNTV.

‘I trained with her and the coaches, who have known me since I was young. They used this campaign to try to weaken me.

‘Italian boxing has known me well for years, because I always went to Italy to train as a member of the national team.

‘I trained with her and the coaches, who have known me since I was little. They used this campaign to try to weaken me,’ she added.

Khelif also described criticism of her being allowed to fight at the Olympics as ‘bullying’ after other sporting stars and JK Rowling fumed over her participation in Paris.

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Khelif has defended her inclusion at the Olympics amidst a controversial gender row

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Khelif has accused Carini (left) and the Italy boxing team of trying to ‘weaken’ her

She followed up her controversial win over Carini by beating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the follow-up contest that means she will win an Olympics medal with the colour of the gong yet to be determined.

Olympics officials have said the eligibility situation surrounding Khelif is a ‘minefield’ and that no forensic or scientific evidence has been provided to prove she is not a woman.

Olympics committee president Thomas Bach said: ‘We are talking about women’s boxing.

‘We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who were raised as women, who have passport as women, who have competed for many years as women. This is the clear definition of a woman.’