In a surprising turn of events at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Italian boxer Angela Carini has issued a public apology to her opponent, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, for her post-fight behavior. Carini's actions following their bout ignited a firestorm of controversy, drawing attention to the eligibility of transgender athletes in competitive sports and fueling conspiracy theories about Khelif's gender.

During Wednesday's match, Carini abruptly abandoned the fight against Khelif in less than a minute and refused to shake her opponent's hand. Overwhelmed with emotion, Carini sank to her knees in tears, later attributing her decision to severe pain in her nose. However, she made it clear that her actions were not politically motivated, and she did not wish to pass judgment on Khelif's participation in the competition.

The fallout from Carini's reaction unleashed a wave of scrutiny regarding Khelif's gender identity. Conservative pundits, media personalities, and lawmakers had already raised questions about Khelif and another Olympic boxer, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, after reports surfaced that both athletes failed to meet a gender eligibility requirement at last year's Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi.

Former President Trump joined the conversation, highlighting the controversy by posting a video of the fight on his social media platform, Truth Social, and asserting his opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Meanwhile, neither Khelif nor Lin identifies as transgender, and both successfully competed in the women's category at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo without controversy.

Apologizing for her actions, Carini expressed regret for not shaking Khelif's hand and stated that she would embrace her if given the opportunity. Speaking to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Carini clarified that her behavior was not intentional and apologized to Khelif and everyone affected by the incident, expressing disappointment that her Olympic dreams had been dashed.

While Khelif, who is set to compete against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in Saturday's quarterfinals, has yet to issue a public statement regarding the backlash, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has addressed the matter. In a statement released on Thursday, the IOC confirmed that all athletes participating in the boxing tournament at the upcoming Paris Games in 2024 would comply with the eligibility and entry regulations, which are based on the athletes' passport information.

During a press conference, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams raised questions about the validity of gender testing conducted during last year's World Boxing Championships. The IOC banned gender testing for the current Games, raising doubts about the reliability of the tests conducted on Khelif and Lin in altering the results of the previous championships.

As the controversy continues to unfold, athletes and officials are calling for a reevaluation of policies concerning gender eligibility in competitive sports. The debate over inclusivity, fairness, and the rights of transgender athletes remains at the forefront, with the implications likely to have a lasting impact on the future of competitive sports.