The International Boxing Association has announced plans to award Italy’s Angela Carini $50,000 in prize money following her defeat in the welterweight round of 16 of Paris 2024 against Algerian Imane Khelif. 

Carini withdrew just 46 seconds into Thursday’s first round against Khelif, having absorbed several clean punches. 

The IBA, which was stripped of its international recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2023, said that Carini would receive $50,000, her federation a further $25,000 and her coach $25,000 also. 

“I do not understand why they killed women’s boxing,” said the organization’s president, Umar Kremlev. “Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety. I could not look at her tears.

“I am not indifferent to such situations, and I can assure that we will protect each boxer. Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety.”

Khelif and Taiwan’s double world champion Lin Yu-ting were cleared to compete at the 2024 Games despite being disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing IBA eligibility rules that prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes competing in women’s events.

The IOC stripped the IBA of its status as boxing’s governing body over governance issues and took charge of the Paris 2024 boxing competition, but as a consequence it finds itself at the center of a row regarding the participation of Khelif and Yu-ting. 

Khelif, per one report, has a disorder of sex development (though she has not confirmed this herself). Differences of Sexual Disorder (DSD) are a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs. Some individuals with DSD are raised as female but have XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels in the male range.