It’s not just Sumit Sangwan and Vikas Krishan raising questions over decisions at the London Olympics. There has been a series of disputes that has led to allegations that medals could be bought this time around.
Last year, BBC Newsnight spoke to Olympics boxing insiders who confirm the same. The report says that the BBC were informed that $9 million had been paid from Azerbaijan to the international boxing authorities for two gold medals.
Of course, the International Boxing Authority or the AIBA have denied any wrong doing and the International Olympics Committee haven’t found any evidence to support the allegations, but some decisions have certainly led to suspicion.
Sangwan looks dejected after his surprise loss. Reuters
One of those decisions was Azeri Magomed Abdulhamidov winning his bout against Japan in spite of going down six times. Japan’s appeal led to a turnaround and the referee (from Turkmenistan) being sent home on the first flight.
Later in the Olympics, Teymur Mammadov, another Azeri was also awarded a close win against Belarus’ Siarhei Karneyeu. But the crowd and the commentators were not fooled when his hands were raised in victory despite committing several holding fouls without being penalized.
Belarus’ appeal was not upheld. Just last year, reports the BBC, a Newsnight investigation got hold of an agreement between the AIBA and Azerbaijan which related to the World Series Boxing.
The investor from the country paid $9 million to the suffering tournament and was emailed by their Minister of Emergency Situations- Kamaladdin Heydarov.
Sources said that the Chief Operating Officer of the tournament told them that a secret deal was concluded in return for a couple of yellow strips.
One whistle blower told Newsnight: “Ivan boasted to a few of us that there was no need to worry about World Series Boxing having the coin to pay its bills. As long as the Azeris got their medals, WSB would have the cash. He was talking about gold medals in London in return for millions of dollars of secret payments. Medals are being sold so blatantly it’s amazing.”
Ching-Ko-Wu, who was ringside with Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday said that the allegations were “untrue”.
He may not be lying, but the damage has been done.
To read the full report, click here.
