A remorseful L Sarita Devi appealed to the International Boxing Association to lift the provisional suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, saying she deeply regrets her outburst on the podium and will never repeat it.
Sarita's participation in the World Championships next month has been jeopardised because of the suspension for refusing to accept the medal after a controversial semi-final defeat at the Asian Games.
"I do accept that the incidents should not have happened and I deeply regret the incidents with a pledge that this will never happen again," the former World and Asian champion said, in her reply to the AIBA's notice.
"Realising my mistakes, I had immediately tendered an apology letter to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Organising Committee of the Asian Games 2014 and accepted the bronze medal," she added.
Sarita said her impeccable disciplinary record before the Asiad incident should be taken into account when her fate is decided by the AIBA's disciplinary committee.
"In my 14-year long career, I had never been involved in any act of indiscipline or misconduct both in the national and international arena. Being one of the pioneers of amateur women boxers in the world who participated in the first World Women Boxing Championship in the USA in 2001, I would like to
plea to your good office to consider my case and pardon me for the incidents in Incheon Asian Games, 2014," she said.
Sarita also insisted that her actions on the podium were not planned and neither were they instigated by her husband or the three ringside coaches, who have also been suspended by AIBA.
"I would like to mention that my husband was unaware of the presence of the AIBA technical delegate and perceived everyone present as Asian Games organisers," she said.
"I would like to state that my conduct during the medal ceremony was not premeditated and was an expression of deep emotional feeling, for which I sincerely apologise once again.
"I hold myself responsible for my actions during the medal ceremony and I was not acting on anyone's instruction. My action did not prompt anyone else to act in a similar manner during the event. The coaches did not influence me in any manner.
"I sincerely apologise once again for my conduct and request your good office to lift the sanction so that I can continue the game I live for and love most,” she added.
