Sarita Devi's refusal to accept Asian Games bronze medal leads to one year ban

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has banned Indian boxer Sarita Devi for one year and imposed a fine of 1000 CHF (Swiss Frank) for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon earlier this year. Sarita’s Korean opponent Park was controversially adjudged the winner of their semi-final when most onlookers felt Sarita was the better of the two. At the presentation ceremony the next day, Sarita, inconsolable and in tears, refused to accept her bronze medal. [caption id=“attachment_1742745” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  India’s L. Sarita Devi cries after she refused her bronze medal during the medal ceremony. AP[/caption] While the entire nation backed Sarita, AIBA, amateur boxing’s governing body, provisionally suspended Sarita for an indefinite period while the appeals committee heard her case. India lobbied hard for Sarita, who apologised for her behaviour. Her ban forced her miss the recent Women’s World Boxing Championship, also held in South Korea. Earlier on 10 December, Sarita finally received her medal from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta. The one-year ban will not hinder Sarita’s chances of competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics as the women’s Olympic qualifiers will start at the end of 2015.