New Delhi: Laishram Sarita Devi was on Wednesday handed a one-year ban by the International Boxing Association for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Incheon Asian Games.The world body’s decision meant that Sarita, who had refused to accept the medal to protest her controversial semi-final loss to South Korea’s Park Ji-Na , will be able to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics. It was earlier feared that the Manipur boxer may get a life ban for her behaviour at the Asiad.
Sarita has been banned retrospectively for a period of one year starting from October 1, 2014. The Aiba has also imposed a fine of 1,000 Swiss francs on the boxer.
The Aiba also penalised other members of the Indian entourage, including Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez, who was handed a two-year ban and was fined 2,000 Swiss francs for supporting Sarita during her protest. His ban is also effective from October 1.
The Aiba’s disciplinary committee banned Sarita’s personal coach Lenin Meitei for a year, while suspending her husband Thoiba Singh from ringside for two years.
However, national men’s coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu, who had been provisionally suspended for not doing enough to restrain Sarita, got a reprieve as the Aiba’s disciplinary committee found him not guilty of the charge.Sarita, who is currently nursing a broken right wrist, was relieved and asserted that she was determined to come back stronger.
