By Nick Butler

Indian boxer Sarita Devi has issued a second apology to AIBA for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games ©Getty ImagesIndia's Sarita Devi has been handed a one-year ban by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) following her outburst on the medals podium at the Asian Games in Incheon.


After a controversial semi-final defeat to home favourite Park Ji-na in the women's lightweight division in South Korea, Devi refused to accept her bronze medal.

Instead, she placed it around the neck of Park, the eventual silver medallist. 

Many in India claimed the result was yet further evidence of biased judging in the sport, with the country's Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar among many to leap to her defence.

But AIBA strongly defended their judging system and took a hardline with Devi. 

The one-year suspension, as well as a fine of CHF 1,000 (£660/$1,036/€830), will therefore come as a partial relief to Devi and Indian authorities, as it means she will be able to return in time for Rio 2016.  

"The Disciplinary Commission has ruled that Ms Devi will be suspended from any activity on the national, confederation and international levels for a period of one year starting from the date of the 2014 Asian Games Medal Ceremony, October 1, 2014," an AIBA statement today read.

"Ms Devi's suspension will end on October 1, 2015 provided that all fines have been paid and no additional Disciplinary Commission rulings have been rendered."

India's Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez, who strongly criticised officials after the bout, has been handed a two-year ban and a CHF 2,000 (£1,300/ $2,070/€16,60) fine.

Sarita Devi's abandoned bronze medal lying on the podium ©Getty ImagesSarita Devi's abandoned bronze medal lying on the podium ©Getty Images



Boxing India President Sandeep Jajodia claimed the ban was a "relief".

"The one-year ban ending October 2015 can further be reduced, based on her good demeanour and hard work," he said.

"Boxing India will, in the meanwhile, continue to correspond with AIBA to reduce the punishment, thus enabling and motivating Sarita Devi to prepare her qualifications for the [Rio 2016] Olympics."

Devi herself expressed her "huge relief" at the limited ban, adding how she will "now be able to participate in the Games and will work harder to bring laurels to the nation".

Despite discussions taking place involving Olympic Council of Asia officials, Devi was not ultimately stripped of her bronze medal in Incheon, after she apologised for her outburst.

It meant she was treated more leniently than Swedish Greco Roman wrestler Ara Abrahamian after he made a similar protest following his Olympic bronze medal in the 84 kilogram division at Beijing 2008. 

After protesting by placing the medal in the centre of the mat and walking away, the Swede was stripped of his medal by the International Olympic Committee and suspended from the sport for two years, although the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in March 2009.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2014: Tendulkar goes into bat for disgraced Indian women's boxer
November 2014: "Every effort should be made" to ensure boxer Devi is pardoned, claims cricket superstar
November 2014: Exclusive: India will back whatever action we take against Devi, AIBA President Wu claims
November 2014: Devi warned "boxing career is finished" by AIBA President Wu following medal protest
October 2014: Indian Boxing officials plead for Devi reinstatement following crisis meeting