(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 1 - The women's boxing bout at the 2024
Paris Olympics between Italy's Angela Carini and Algerian Imane
Khelif was not a fair fight, Premier Giorgia Meloni said after
Carini abandoned the controversial welterweight contest against
an athlete who failed gender-eligibility tests at last year's
world championships.
"I'm all the more sorry," Meloni told reporters at Team Italy's
Casa Italia headquarters in Paris when told Carini had abandoned
the fight.
"I was excited yesterday when she wrote 'I will fight' because
in these things, dedication, brains and character count," said
the premier, who is in Paris to cheer on Italian athletes.
"But being able to compete on equal terms counts too. And from
my point of view, it was not a fair contest".
(see related) (ANSA).
Olympics: Carini-Khelif wasn't a fair fight says Meloni
Premier expresses sadness after Italian boxer abandons bout