Investigators fear eleven boxing matches at the Rio Olympic Games were fixed by officials, including Great Britain boxer ,Joe Joyce’s controversial defeat against France’s Tony Yoka in a gold medal fight.
An inquiry by sport’s top investigator, Professor Richard McLaren, has found evidence of widespread corruption and manipulation in Olympic boxing that stretched back to the turn of the century.
His report raises the prospect that fights at London 2012 may also have been manipulated.
McLaren said he has concluded that six-figure sums changed hands to decide the decision in some bouts, while others were fixed to benefit national associations or Olympic Committees.
The team were called in when an internal probe by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) found ‘strong suspicion’ of manipulation around a number of bouts at Rio.
Key findings in the report include:
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referees and judges were appointed because they would ‘comply with the manipulation or [they] were incompetent but wanted to continue’ in their role
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officials had ‘personal goals, which were frequently the intangible rewards of recognition, inclusion and respect in their home countries’
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bouts could be manipulated for money of to thank supportive national Olympic committees, on some occasions six-figure sums changed hands
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the investigation team acknowledge that progress is being made to’ correct the process of officiating’ at the AIBA but there are still weaknesses