Rio Olympics: Boxing association suspends every ref and judge

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Tony Victor James Yoka of France celebrates victory over Joe Joyce of Great Britain in the Men’s Super Heavy (+91kg) Final Bout on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Tony Victor James Yoka of France celebrates victory over Joe Joyce of Great Britain in the Men’s Super Heavy (+91kg) Final Bout on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

After accusations of corruption from athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the AIBA has suspended every boxing ref and judge that served at the games.

The AIBA — the lead world amateur boxing organization — made the decision after a three-day meeting in Switzerland to discuss the upcoming games in Tokyo in 2020.

In a statement, AIBA president President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu said said: “As an organization, we have pulled together and I am extremely happy with the work that has been done this week by highly experienced members of our commissions, whose expertise and council will allow AIBA and its community to develop further throughout this next Olympic cycle.”
Boxers routinely complained about the judging and officiating during the games. Irish boxer Michael Conlan flipped a middle finger at judges after a controversial decision eliminated him in the bantamweight quarterfinals. He followed with an expletive-filled television interview. Conlan has since turned pro.
In an interview Wednesday, Conlan called the decision “a travesty.”
A total of 36 judges and officials have been suspended. An unknown number of judges were removed while the games were taken place and are part of the total number suspended.

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