A Shot Put champion has hit out at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for not "protecting women" after a boxer with "high levels of testosterone" fought Italy's Angela Carini today at the Olympics.
Carini's fight with her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif took just 46 seconds, with the Italian throwing her helmet onto the floor as the clash was abandoned, yelling: "This is unjust."
British athlete Amelia Campbell told GB News: "There are some serious, serious safety issues here.
"I'm honestly just shocked that the IOC hasn't taken more care of the female athlete's sake."
Amelia Campbell said that it causes some "serious safety issues"
GB News
Earlier in the interview she said: "There have been studies done that show there is 162 per cent average more punching power for a male.
"We can't deny that that difference is there, for the IOC to not do a simple sex test and protect the women in this sport it's really sad, scary and just frustrating to watch.
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"They've worked their whole lives for this. And to have to be scared enough to back out of the fight and just to say 'I've been hit. I've never been hit that hard before, I don't feel comfortable competing', you could see in the footage actually of the fight, the power of that punch hitting the female competitor."
Carini, according to reports, shouted "this is unjust" and cried in the ring following her defeat.
And the Italy star, speaking to Italian news agency ANSA, has now opened up on why she quit.
Olympics fans have raged after Imane Khelif beat Angela Carini in the boxing on ThursdayGETTY"I went into the ring to fight," said Carini. "I didn't give up but a punch hurt too much so I said enough.
"I'm leaving with my head held high."
Carini also insisted that everything said and written about Khelif before the showdown had no impact on her decision.
"I am nobody to judge and I have nothing against my opponent.
Olympics star Angela Carini was devastated after her defeat on ThursdayGETTY"I had a task and I carried it out even if she didn't make it," she told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Everything that happened before the match had absolutely no influence."
The IOC said in a statement: "All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations in accordance with rules 1.4 and 3.1 of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.
"The PBU endeavoured to restrict amendments to minimise the impact on athletes' preparation and guaranteeing consistency between Olympic Games."
