Italian boxer Carini to be awarded prize money

The International Boxing Association (IBA) will award Italian boxer Angela Carini with prize money after her controversial loss in Paris Olympics 2024. Carini lost her welterweight round-of-16 bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics in 46 seconds on Thursday. Carini will be awarded a prize money of 50,000 dollars, the association announced. Carini had to pull out in the first round itself after the Algerian boxer pummelled the Italian with a barrage of punches. Khalif has been facing a lot of heat amid the raging gender row, which sparked debates across the sporting world.

The IBA was stripped of its international recognition after the International Olympic Committee last year. They informed that Carini would receive 50,000 dollars, her federation would get 25,000 dollars and her coach would get an additional 25,000 dollars. "I do not understand why they killed women's boxing," IBA President Umar Kremlev said. "Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety. I could not look at her tears."

Algeria's Khelif, and Taiwan double world champion Lin Yu-ting, were given clearance to compete in Paris despite being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing IBA eligibility criteria. As per their rules, the athletes with male XY chromosomes were barred from competing in women's events.

The IOC took down IBA of its status as boxing's governing body over governance issues and took charge of the Paris Olympics 2024 boxing competition itself. However, the committee found itself at the centre of a controversy over Khalif and Lin Yu-ting's participation.