Woman boxer L. Sarita Devi and three coaches, who were suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), have filed their replies, explaining their conduct during the Incheon Asian Games, to the world body. However, according to Boxing India (BI), the ace boxer cannot participate in the upcoming world women’s boxing championship in Jeju Island, Korea.
The AIBA had suspended Sarita, coaches G.S. Sandhu, B.I. Fernandez, Sagar Mal Dhayal and chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent Adile Sumariwalla last week on the grounds that the boxer, protesting her semifinal loss to Jina Park, refused to accept her bronze medal and put it around the neck of silver medallist from Korea at the medal ceremony.
Sarita later filed a written apology to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Even after taking note of the development, the AIBA put the five members of the Indian contingent under provisional suspension and debarred them from participating in the world women’s championship next month.
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It is learnt that Sarita and the coaches directly sent their replies to AIBA’s show-cause notice with a copy to BI on Monday. However, Sumariwalla did not send any communication to the apex boxing body.
“We have helped them file their replies in consultation with legal experts. We are in touch with the AIBA and are trying to get the suspension lifted as soon as possible. However, AIBA has made it clear that Sarita cannot participate in the world championship,” said BI Secretary Jay Kowli.
In her letter, Sarita said, “I do accept that the incidents should not have happened and I deeply regret the incidents with a pledge that this will never happen again.
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“Realising my mistakes, I had immediately tendered an apology letter to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Organising Committee of the Asian Games 2014 and accepted the bronze medal.”
Sarita, a former world champion and four-time Asian gold medallist, said her exemplary track record should be taken into account. “In my 14-year long career, I had never been involved in any act of indiscipline or misconduct both in the national and international arena.
“Being one of the pioneers of amateur women boxers in the world who participated in the first world women’s boxing championship in the USA in 2001, I plea to your good office to consider my case and pardon me for the incidents in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.”
Sarita said her outburst at the medal ceremony was neither pre-planned, nor prompted by anybody.
Sumariwalla confirmed that he had not filed any reply. “Nobody has asked me for a reply. The AIBA has no jurisdiction over me. If it had helped the girl, I would have written to AIBA.
“As the chef-de-mission, representing 1.2 billion people of India, I did whatever I could do. I went and apologised and got her medal back,” said Sumariwalla.
In the morning, Union sports secretary Ajit Sharan held a meeting with BI officials, chief National coach Sandhu and Sumariwalla and assured all possible help from the government to get the suspension lifted at the earliest.