The International Boxing Association (IBA) announced that it will present Angela Carini with the prize money she would have won if she had become an Olympic champion, BTA reports. Italy's Carini pulled out of her fight with Algeria's Imane Khelief, who was at the center of a gender identity test scandal last year, after just 46 seconds.
Carini, who was in tears afterwards, said she could not continue out of concern for her safety. "It hurts so much. My heart is broken. I went to the ring to honor my father. I have been told many times that I am a fighter, but I chose to stop because of my health. "I have never suffered such a blow," said the Italian.
The IBA recently announced plans to reward any boxer who wins a gold medal at the Games with $50,000. The president of the headquarters Umar Kremlov also commented on the scandal.
"I couldn't watch her tears. I am not indifferent to such situations and I can assure you that we will protect every boxer," Kremlov said in a statement.
„I don't understand why they are killing women's boxing. "Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety," he added.
Khelif is one of two female boxers - along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-tin - who were disqualified from last year's World Championships for not meeting the gender identity criteria. Kremlov also said the IBA will also rematch Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova, who lost to Lynn on Friday.