(OCT 2) On October 1, 2014,
we brought you
Michael O’Neill’s report of the chaotic scenes in Incheon
which posed certain questions for the sport’s governing body. In
response the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has
partially addressed one of the issues raised by instituting
Disciplinary proceedings against the Indian boxer (60kg)
Laishram Sarita Devi, albeit her refusal to accept her bronze
medal was a day later.
For the sake of ‘fair play’ there now needs to be unedited
videos of the Sarita Devi v Ji Park bout made available online
and for the organisers – the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to
respond to the numerous allegations made in several sports and
not just boxing.
WBAN repeats its request that a complete, unedited, version of
the Devi/Park bout be made available ONLINE so that viewers can
reach their own conclusion as to whether the verdict was correct
or not.
In a subsequent email to our correspondent the (A)IBA added
these further clarifications.
“It is important to underline that according AIBA Technical
Rules it is only possible to protest against the Referee, but
not judging. Thus, both protests were rejected.
Please find the rule below
RULE 5. PROTESTS
5.1. AOB
5.1.1. A protest may only challenge a decision of the Referee.
5.1.2. No protest against Judges’ decisions will be accepted.
5.1.3. The process to lodge a protest is detailed in the AOB
Competition Rules.
It is also important to mention that such cases unfortunately
happen at competitions "
We publish here the AIBA’s response in full as received and
which can be viewed on aiba.org in the NEWS section.
Link
AIBA STATEMENT
Disciplinary case opened against Indian women's boxer at Asian
Games
01.10.2014
Mr David B. Francis, an AIBA Supervisor, known as the Technical
Delegate, submitted a report to the Olympic Council of Asia
concerning the case of an Indian Boxer’s behaviour who refused
the bronze medal at the Award Ceremony for the 17th Asian Games
in Incheon, Korea, which took place today at the Sunhak Boxing
Competition Venue.
“The whole incident looked like a well planned scenario by her
and her team, and it is regretful to watch a boxer refuse the
medal regardless of what happened in the competition. In this
regard, as the Technical Delegate, I had to request OCA to
review this incident, so any boxer or athlete in other sports
will not follow in her footsteps by respecting the spirit of
fair-play and sportsmanship of the Olympic Movement,” said Mr
Francis.
In early September, AIBA had provisionally recognized Boxing
India as the new National Federation representing the sport of
boxing in India, ending the exclusion of the previous National
Federation. However, all boxers participating at the Asian Games
currently were selected by the Ad Hoc Committee formed by the
Indian Olympic Association, not by Boxing India.
It was clear that the whole Indian Boxing Team were protesting
the AIBA Referees and Judges’ system and management, which was
obviously caused by a lack of understanding of the AIBA
Technical and AOB Competition Rules.
Following the AIBA Technical Delegate’s letter to OCA, Ms
Laishram Sarita Devi from India, who competed in the Women’s
Lightweight category (60 kg) against Ms Jina Park from Korea in
the Semi-Finals yesterday lost by unanimous decision 3–0.
Immediately after the bout, the Indian Team submitted a protest,
however the Indian Team did not follow the AIBA Technical Rules
and protested against the judges’ decisions, though the Rules
only allow a protest against the Referee’s Decision.
Then, the boxer appeared at the Medal Ceremony which took place
today after the Women’s Finals were over.
When the medal presenter tried to put the medal on her neck, she
refused and grabbed the medal, walked to the Korean boxer and
put the medal on her neck instead.
As the Korean boxer returned it back to the Indian Boxer, she
then left the medal at the podium and left the Ceremony.
Then, after the Organizing Committee member of staff followed
her and insisted she take the medal, she asked him to leave it
in the protest room. When the Organizing Committee staff walked
towards the protest room, all Indian journalists followed the
staff and some of them shouted “Koreans are stealing their
medal.”
AIBA has already proceeded its Disciplinary Action Process to
review this case, and the decision will be made immediately
after the Asian Games.
