Int`l boxing body penalizes head of S. Korean federation

(ATTN: RECASTS to correct reason for reprimand)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- A boxing governing body has punished the chief of a
South Korean federation for the sport, suspending him for 18 months and demanding
he pay 2,000 Swiss francs (US$1,800) for sending unregistered medical staff to an
international competition, an official here said Monday.
The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) did not say whether South
Koreans would still be able to compete in the World Championship scheduled in
Italy next month, said Kim Sung-chul at the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).
AIBA notified the Korean Amateur Boxing Federation (KABF) over the weekend that
it was penalizing federation chief Yoo Jae-joon for sending an unregistered team
doctor to a world junior championship in May, according to Kim.
The KABF has also been accused of weigh-in falsification at the boxing
tournament, but AIBA's notification did not include that allegation as a reason
for the penalty, Kim said.
AIBA's decision followed a two-day Seoul visit last month by an inspection team
from the association to look into the allegations. The international governing
body banned South Korean boxers and staff from competitions in May after the
suspicions were first raised.
The KOC has appealed to the international body to allow South Korean boxers to
compete in the upcoming tournament, regardless of the punishment of the boxing
chief.
"The KOC believes that none of the players should be disadvantaged in
participating in competitions," another KOC official said. "If they are not
allowed to participate, then we will try to resolve it through other means,
including seeking help from the International Olympic Committee."
South Korea has already submitted a roster of 10 boxers and four staff members to
the organizers of next month's world championship.
brk@yna.co.kr
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