Italian boxer says she would "apologise and hug" Imane Khelif after what happened at the Olympics

Italian boxer Angela Carini says she "wants to apologise" to Imane Khelif for the way she handled the moments after their controversial clash at the Olympics and would "give her a hug" if she saw her again.

Carini dropped out after just 46 seconds when Khelif punched him in the chin. After Khelif's hand was raised to signal her victory, Carini fell to her knees and tearfully refused to shake her opponent's hand.

"It's not fair, it's not fair," she told her trainer before promptly leaving the ring with a broken nose. The 25-year-old told reporters that she had never been hit so hard in her career.

Last year, Khelif was disqualified from the women's World Championships in New Delhi for failing the gender eligibility test. The International Boxing Association (IBA) said she failed to meet their eligibility criteria, which prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women's competitions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which runs Olympic boxing after stripping the IBA of recognition as the sport's global federation last year, has different rules about gender eligibility and does not make chromosome testing mandatory.

The IBA did not specify why the boxer failed her gender suitability test, but clarified that she did not undergo testosterone screenings. Khelif does not identify as transgender or intersex.

Carini has now said that she regrets how she treated her after the match by not shaking her opponent's hand and that she does not hold a grudge against her.

"All this controversy makes me sad," Carini said in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "I am also sorry for my opponent. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.

“It wasn't something I intended to do [not shake his hand]. In fact, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics were over. I have nothing against Khalif. In fact, if I were to meet him again, I would hug him,” she said.