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FRESH ALLEGATIONS OVER AZERBAIJANI BOXERS
Tert.am
20:54 27.09.11
Fresh allegations of corruption involving Azerbaijani boxers have
surfaced at the world amateur championships following earlier claims
that Baku paid a huge bribe to secure Olympic gold for its fighters.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that Azerbaijan's
boxers had been given seeded positions at the world championships -
the first Olympic qualifying event for boxing - that did not reflect
their world rankings.
"The seedings see the Azerbaijani super-heavyweight Magomedrasul
Medzhidov ranked No 2, despite never having fought in a major
tournament at that weight," the newspaper's report said.
"Of the eight other (Azerbaijani) boxers, four are seeded at No 8
in their respective weight categories although that does not reflect
their world ranking," it said.
The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) denied any
irregularities in the seeding process at the championships, saying
that it conformed to competition rules available for public scrutiny
on its website.
"In the regulations, the host country has eight seeded boxers,"
AIBA spokesman Sebastien Gillot told AFP.
"The regulation would be the same for any host country," he said,
rejecting any suggestion of preferential treatment for Azerbaijan.
He said that Medzhidov was given his number two seeding because
"he was the second best boxer in the World Series of Boxing last year".
The British newspaper's allegations followed a report by the BBC last
week claiming that an Azerbaijani national paid a $9 million bribe
to ensure victories for the country's fighters at next year's Olympics.
The claim caused fury in Baku where Azerbaijani boxing officials
described it as a lie, while AIBA president Wu Ching-Kuo said it was
"totally untrue and ludicrous".
"Any corruption or manipulation is totally unacceptable," he said.
The world championships are being seen as a major event in Azerbaijan,
an energy-rich state seeking to boost its international profile.
Tert.am
20:54 27.09.11
Fresh allegations of corruption involving Azerbaijani boxers have
surfaced at the world amateur championships following earlier claims
that Baku paid a huge bribe to secure Olympic gold for its fighters.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that Azerbaijan's
boxers had been given seeded positions at the world championships -
the first Olympic qualifying event for boxing - that did not reflect
their world rankings.
"The seedings see the Azerbaijani super-heavyweight Magomedrasul
Medzhidov ranked No 2, despite never having fought in a major
tournament at that weight," the newspaper's report said.
"Of the eight other (Azerbaijani) boxers, four are seeded at No 8
in their respective weight categories although that does not reflect
their world ranking," it said.
The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) denied any
irregularities in the seeding process at the championships, saying
that it conformed to competition rules available for public scrutiny
on its website.
"In the regulations, the host country has eight seeded boxers,"
AIBA spokesman Sebastien Gillot told AFP.
"The regulation would be the same for any host country," he said,
rejecting any suggestion of preferential treatment for Azerbaijan.
He said that Medzhidov was given his number two seeding because
"he was the second best boxer in the World Series of Boxing last year".
The British newspaper's allegations followed a report by the BBC last
week claiming that an Azerbaijani national paid a $9 million bribe
to ensure victories for the country's fighters at next year's Olympics.
The claim caused fury in Baku where Azerbaijani boxing officials
described it as a lie, while AIBA president Wu Ching-Kuo said it was
"totally untrue and ludicrous".
"Any corruption or manipulation is totally unacceptable," he said.
The world championships are being seen as a major event in Azerbaijan,
an energy-rich state seeking to boost its international profile.