Italian boxer Angela Carini has expressed her regrets and offered an apology to her opponent, Algerian fighter Imane Khelif, following their contentious match at the Paris Olympics. Carini's decision to abandon the bout just 46 seconds into the fight has sparked a debate surrounding the eligibility of athletes, with Khelif being one of two individuals at the center of a gender controversy.

During the match, Carini endured two punches to the face and was overheard expressing her concerns about the fairness of the fight to her coaches. The emotional aftermath saw Carini in tears as she spoke to reporters about the incident. In an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Carini expressed her sadness over the controversy, stating, "I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision."

Carini also shared her remorse for giving Khelif the cold shoulder after the match, admitting that it was something she did not intend to do. "Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke," Carini explained.

The Algerian fighter, Khelif, is set to compete in the next round on Saturday against Hungarian boxer Luca Hamori. Khelif's participation has come under scrutiny after the International Boxing Association (IBA) deemed her ineligible based on gender eligibility tests, claiming she has "XY chromosomes." However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stood by Khelif's eligibility and criticized the IBA for their sudden and arbitrary decision to disqualify her without due process.

Referring to Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting, the IOC stated, "The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure - especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years."

The gender controversy surrounding Khelif has sparked a wider conversation about how athletes' eligibility is determined and the need for inclusion and fairness in Olympic competitions. As the Paris Olympics continue, the issue remains a point of contention, with organizations and athletes alike pushing for a more comprehensive and transparent approach to ensure a level playing field for all participants.