AIBA slaps one-year ban on Sarita Devi for medal fiasco at Asian Games

Boxer L Sarita Devi was handed a one-year ban by the International Boxing Association for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Incheon Asian Games in October.

The AIBA also banned India's Cuban boxing coach B I Fernandez for two years.

Sarita, who was provisionally suspended by the AIBA after she refused to accept her medal following a controversial semi-final defeat at the Asian Games, later tendered an unconditional apology for her actions.

Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had also written to the world body to revoke the provisional suspension and consider her humble background and earlier track record of good behaviour.

The boxer also received support from cricket icon and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar, who urged people, the government and sports bodies to work for Sarita's cause.

Last week the Manipur boxer received the bronze medal from Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Rajeev Mehta at the IOA's headquarters in Delhi.

Image: India's L Sarita Devi weeps at the women’s light 60-kilogram division boxing medal ceremony as she steps on to the podium, helped by bronze medalist, Vietnam's Thi Duyen Luu, at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon.

Photograph: PTI