New Delhi: The Indian female boxer who had refused to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games has been banned for one year.
Boxing India said Wednesday that world governing body AIBA confirmed the ban on Sarita Devi, backdated to the day of the incident on October 1.
It was a lighter-than-expected penalty, given that AIBA president CK Wu had told The Associated Press last month the boxer would be “heavily punished.”
Boxing India president Sandeep Jajodia said the national body had worked hard in a bid to ensure she did not get a long ban.
“There was apprehension that Sarita would be banned for life, but BI continuously worked to get relief for Sarita, trying to impress on AIBA that she is a disciplined boxer,” Jajodia said.
Devi, who had been serving a provisional suspension pending the decision, was also fined 1,000 Swiss francs (Dh3,820; $1,040), while India’s Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez was banned for two years.
Devi was angered by the judging in her semi-final loss in the 60-kilogram division and showed her displeasure during the medal ceremony, refusing to let the medal be placed around her neck.
Instead she took the medal in her hand and slipped it on the neck of Park Ji-na, the winner of the bout. The South Korean tried to give it back, then left it on the podium.
AIBA had opened a disciplinary case against Sarita within hours of the medal ceremony and it was followed by an apology from Devi.
Devi, who missed last month’s Women’s World Boxing Championship in the South Korean city of Jeju, will be eligible to return in time to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
