Ariel Helwani reacts to Angela Carini claiming she wants to apologize to Imane Khelif: "I’d say she’s not the only one"

Two days after her infamous bout with Imane Khelif at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Angela Carini seems to be regretting her handling of the match due to the criticism her opponent is receiving. Although she does not regret the decision to stop fighting after just 46 seconds, Carini told La Gazzetta dello Sport that she wishes to apologize to Khelif for her post-fight reaction.

Carini told the Italian news site that the controversy caused by her loss makes her "sad" and that she wishes she could apologize to Khelif for not shaking her hand after the fight. After her comments went public, veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reacted to the interview, believing that Carini is "not the only one" who should be apologizing.

"I'd say she's not the only one who owes Khelif an apology."

Helwani's message refers to the thousands of fans on social media who publicly chastised Khelif and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing the Algerian to compete. Rumors of Khelif being a transgender female surfaced after the 25-year-old failed a gender eligibility test in 2023 but the IOC has refuted such claims.

Carini said that she does not regret stopping the fight for her safety but feels that her decision to not shake Khelif's hand after the bout and cry in the ring was unnecessary in hindsight. Carini said she "respects" the IOC's ruling allowing Khelif to compete and believes that there is no foul play involved.

---

International Olympic Committee's statement on Imane Khelif

With the IOC receiving an overwhelming amount of hate on social media for allowing Imane Khelif to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the organization was forced to respond to rumors of the fighter being a biological male.

In a public statement, the committee's spokesperson, Mark Adams, noted that Khelif was "born a female," saying:

"The Algerian boxer was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female [and] has a female passport. This is not a transgender case."

Khelif is next expected to face Hungary's Luca Anna Hamori on Aug. 3. Hungary reportedly plans to file an appeal against Khelif's eligibility but will likely have little success.