Devi Refuses Bronze and faces action after that refusal at the Asian Games by Sue TL Fox

(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.