Imane Khelif's opponent details frightening power of her punches in first words since suffering brutal defeat at Olympics

Italian boxer Angela Carini has revealed why she abandoned her Olympic fight against Imane Khelif, who is at the centre of an eligibility row at Paris 2024.

Carini abandoned their bout after 46 seconds against her Algerian opponent in the women's welterweight contest.

The participation of Khelif has been the source of controversy having been disqualified from the Women's World Boxing Championships last year after failing to meet eligbility criteria.

Carini had been struck twice by her opponent in the opening round, before abandoning the contest after speaking to her corner.

The 25-year-old had fallen to her knees and cried in the ring after abandoning the fight.

Caini explained her decision to abandon the fight, revealing she had been rocked by the power of Khelif's punches.  

'I went into the ring to fight,' Carini said, as per the Italian news agency ANSA.

'I didn't give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough.

'I'm leaving with my head held high.'

The Italian boxer had claimed before the fight that she could 'only adapt to the rules of the Olympics'.

Khelif's participation in the event has been a source of controversy having been disqualified from the Women's World Boxing Championships last year.

The Olympics website noted that Khelif had been disqualified hours before a gold medal bout against China's Yang Liu in New Delhi after her elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria.

The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) hit back by claiming the disqualification was part of a 'conspiracy' to stop them from winning a gold medal and said 'medical reasons' were behind high testosterone levels.

Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan was also disqualified from the World Championships.

According to feminist website Reduxx, both are thought both are impacted by a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), a series of medical conditions identified at birth where genitalia is atypical in relation to chromosomes.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) released a statement on Wednesday, stating their decisions were made 'after a meticulous review'.

The IBA stated that neither athlete underwent testosterone exams, but were instead 'subject to a separate and recognised test' which were held at their World Championships in 2022 and 2023. 

It is claimed the tests 'conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria', with both boxers 'found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.'

The IBA hit out at the IOC, stating its differing regulations 'raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes' safety.'

The IBA are not responsible for the Olympic competition having been stripped of recognition by the IOC amid ongoing governance issues - with the organisation establishing the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit to run the event.

The Boxing Unit has approved both boxers participation under rules in place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which are less strict than the IBA's.

Both Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting compete in Tokyo, with both losing in the early rounds of their respective events.

Ahead of Khelif's first bout at Paris 2024, the COA slammed 'baseless attacks' against their boxer.

'COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.

'Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.'

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams had warned against a 'witch hunt' against the two boxers cleared to compete in Paris and criticised misreporting, stressing the cases are not a transgender issue.

Adams had urged the rhetoric to be 'dialled down', adding that the 'entirely comfortable with the rules' which had previously been used at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.