The remainder of the boxing at Rio 2016 will be overseen by Franco Falcinelli as AIBA have been forced to reassign their Executive Director.
A spotlight was shone on the judging of boxing bouts at the Games after a number of contentious decisions were delivered in the past week.
On Wednesday a number of judges were sent home by AIBA, Olympic boxing’s governing body, after they were deemed to have arrived at decisions that “were not at the level expected.”
Evgeny Tishchenko’s heavyweight gold medal victory over Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Levit perplexed many spectators while Michael Conlan’s shock exit to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin made headline news.
Boxing judges removed from Rio Olympics due to disputed results, AIBA announce https://t.co/eYQ7zAE8u8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 17, 2016
And on Thursday it was revealed that AIBA Executive Director Karim Bouzidi had been reassigned to a new role in the organisation while his post will be taken up by Vice President of AIBA Executive Board Franco Falcinelli for the remainder of Rio 2016.
In a statement in which a terrible choice of words was used to explain how AIBA held “a zero tolerance policy towards fair play in boxing,” it was announced that Falcinelli would take over effective immediately.
The statement reads:
“Further to the decision taken yesterday by AIBA with regard to the reassessment of the judges and referees officiating during Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the AIBA Vice Presidents and Executive Board members have decided to reassign immediately the current AIBA Executive Director to a new role within the organization. Consequently, the operational responsibilities for the remainder of the Olympic Boxing Competition will now fall under the responsibilities of the most senior Vice President of the AIBA Executive Board, Mr Franco Falcinelli, President of the European Boxing Confederation.
“The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of all sports and Boxing has been part of this since 1904. Since the beginning of Rio 2016, AIBA has conducted 250 bouts and remains fully committed to a zero tolerance policy towards fair play in boxing always acting in the boxers’ utmost interest.
“The latest decisions taken emphasised AIBA will not shy away from its responsibilities and will continue to ensure a level playing field and a fair and transparent sport. It is of paramount importance to protect our sport and its R&J community whose integrity is constantly put into question.”
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes
