She had to quit! Italian boxer abandons bout against controversial Algerian fighter

Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned her Round of 16 women's 66kg fight at the Olympics after just 46 seconds to Algerian counterpart Imane Khelif.

Khelif, 25, is one of two athletes who have been cleared to compete in the women's boxing in Paris, having been disqualified from last year's Women's World Championships for failing to pass certain gender tests.

Khelif was disqualified then because of elevated levels of testosterone.

After taking a punch to the face within 30 seconds, Carini went to the corner for her coach to fix her headgear but, after briefly resuming, returned to her corner once more and stopped the fight.

Just before Khelif's arm was raised by the referee, Carini could be heard on camera saying "it's not right".

She was in tears in the ring and as she faced the media after the bout.

"I wasn't able to finish the match, I felt a strong pain to my nose and I said [to myself] for the experience that I have and the maturity as a woman that I have, I said I hope my nation won't take it badly, I hope my dad won't take it badly - but I stopped, I said stop for myself," Carini told BBC Sport.

"It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.

"I didn't have fear, I don't fear the ring. I don't fear taking the blows. But this time there's an end for everything, and I put an end to this match, because I wasn't able to [continue]."

On Khelif, Carini told reporters: "I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy.

"I am someone who doesn't judge anyone. I am not here to give judgements."

Khelif, who has lost nine times during her 50-fight career, told BBC Sport: "I'm here for the gold - I fight everybody."