Franco Falcinelli, AIBA’s most senior vice-president, will take over operational responsibilities for the Olympic competition.
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“The Olympic Games, of which Boxing has been a part since 1904, represent the pinnacle of all sports”.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) The International Boxing Association has reassigned its executive director in the middle of the Olympics after an examination of the judging and refereeing at the games. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that AIBA has made a decision to withhold publication of the names of the judges booted in order to avoid “besmirch [ing] their families”. Stevenson actually wanted to box Conlan, the reigning World gold medallist, in the semi-final.
THE AIBA has announced that it can has dropped a number of judges in the wake of Irish boxer Michael Conlan branding them “cheating b******s”.
Another bout that has prompted scrutiny was Ireland Michael Conlan’s loss to Russian Vladimir Nikitin on Tuesday.
Nikitin was the beneficiary of a controversial unanimous decision on Tuesday despite Conlan re-injuring a pre-existing a cut, and opening several more wounds on his face.
The judges’ decision in the Conlan-Nikitin fight was not the first one at the Rio Games to draw scrutiny.
The Algerian Kheira Sidi Yakoub, who officiated on the controversial Evgeny Tishchenko heavyweight bout, and the Irishman Michael Gallagher are among those who have not appeared since the decision was taken.
The boxing federation did not say specifically how many decisions it deemed insufficient or specify what was wrong with those decisions.
AIBA declined to say which bouts were among the “handful” cited as their basis for removing the unnamed referees and judges.
Scoring systems in Olympic boxing have long provoked controversy and allegations of underhand activity. They also expressed relief that the issue of inadequate judging was being addressed, although they dismissed the accusations of corruption.
Team USA coach Billy Walsh said Stevenson would receive a walkover, it has been reported. “Anybody can make a mistake, but it’s happened too often”. I just didn’t understand it.
AIBA officials double up as referees and judges. AIBA has also asked that anyone with information on corruption or bribing involving boxing judges – booted or active – to step forward and report what they know.
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AIBA picks its Olympic referees and judges from a pool of 36 men and women. All five judges’ scores are entered after a fight, and a computer randomly selects three of them to determine the final victor.
