Boxing body ditches Rio judges, referees

International amateur boxing governing body AIBA on Wednesday said that any judges or referees involved in controversial Olympic bouts thus far would take no further part in the Rio Games.

This followed several verdicts for fights won on points that left observers and competitors scratching their heads. The short three-round format at the Olympics very rarely delivers knock-out victories; most fights are ultimately decided by the judges.

AIBA said that an investigative commission "has reviewed all decisions and determined that less than a handful of the decisions were not at the level expected and consequently it has been decided … that the concerned referees and judges will no longer officiate at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games."

However, the results of all past bouts would stand, AIBA stressed, even those deemed to be unsatisfactory. Wednesday's initial statement did not identify any individuals or fights.

Irish bantamweight Conlan drew attention to judges

Two of the more controversial verdicts have involved Russian boxers. Fans were disappointed by Evgeny Tishchenko being awarded men's heavyweight gold against Kazakhstan's Vassily Levit on Monday, with Tishchenko booed as he stepped onto the podium during the medals ceremony.

The following day, as Tishchenko picked up his gold, his countryman Vladimir Nikitin was unanimously awarded victory in his bantamweight quarterfinal against Irishman Michael Conlan - one of the bookies' favorites for a medal. Perhaps ominously, Irish TV channel RTE's coverage of the fight began with a commentator saying: "Let's just hope that this is a fair contest, we've had some absolutely shocking decisions, including last night in the men's heavyweight final."

Conlan was irate after the ruling, hurling abuse at the judges as he clambered out of the ring and then calling AIBA "corrupt" in subsequent interviews, saying he would never compete in an AIBA bout again.

"They've robbed me of my Olympic dream," Conlan said. "I said before that I was going to be Olympic champion. I was in first gear and I was boxing the ears off him. I don't know how it went against me." Sporting some bleeding wounds of his own, the Irishman said defeat was etched on his opponent's face when the final bell rang: "He was cut everywhere. Did you see his face? You saw by his reaction that he knew he didn't win."

Of the three rounds, observers were particularly surprised at the judging panel's unanimous decision to call Round 1 - the most one-sided of the bunch - in Nikitin's favor.

Conlan even took to Twitter after his disappointment, addressing a Tweet directly at the English-language account for Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking: "How much did they charge you, bro?"

Conlan also referred to Tishchenko's heavyweight gold, claiming that "corruption runs deep."

"I watched Russia last night in the final and by all means Kazakhstan beat him and didn't get the decision," Conlan said. "The judges are corrupt, it's as simple as that. I'll never box in an AIBA competition again … not even Olympic Games."

AIBA hints at legal action over 'subjective judgments by discontented parties'

Noting boxing's status since 1904 as an Olympic sport, AIBA sought to stress that it was striving "continuously" to ensure "a level playing field" for competitors.

"AIBA will not shy away from its responsibilities and is fully committed to a zero tolerance policy towards fair play in boxing, always acting in the boxers' utmost interests," the organization's statement said, before warning against unsubstantiated allegations of corruption.

"With regard to corruption, we would like to strongly restate that unless tangible proof is put forward, not rumors, we will continue to use any means, including legal or disciplinary actions to protect our sport," AIBA said. "The organization will not be deterred by subjective judgments made by discontented parties. We welcome all parties to come forward and provide evidence in order to take appropriate and immediate action."

Three medal fights take place in the ring in Rio on Wednesday, one of them involving a Russian bid for bronze in the women's lightweight category. Boxing had already had something of a torrid Games, following allegations of sexual assault leveled against a Namibian and a Moroccan competitor at the Olympic Village.

msh/dv (AFP, dpa, Retuers)