Int'l boxing body lifts ban on S. Korean boxers

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- The international boxing governing body lifted a ban
on South Korea's participation in an upcoming championship event that was imposed
for sending unregistered staff to an earlier tournament, officials here said
Tuesday.

The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) sent a letter to the Korea
Olympic Council (KOC), the country's top sports governing body, that South Korean
coaches and athletes will be allowed to take part in the World Boxing
Championships scheduled for Sep. 1 in Milan, Italy.
AIBA had forbidden boxers from the Korean Amateur Boxing Federation (KABF) from
participating in all international competitions, saying that the KABF had sent an
unauthorized team doctor to a youth event this year.
"The KOC has made concerted efforts to have AIBA lift the ban," Kim Sung-chul of
KOC told Yonhap. "It's very fortunate that our players can compete."
Kim said that the withdrawal came after KABF chief Yoo Jae-joon accepted an
18-month suspension imposed by AIBA early this month.
"It's still not enough for us because the KABF chief's suspension still remains,"
said Kim.
He said that the KOC will push to lift or reduce the suspension handed down to Yoo.
AIBA officials visited Seoul in July to investigate allegations that South Korean
officials overlooked a weigh-in falsification at a local boxing event.
However, Kim said that AIBA did not mention whether it would clear those
allegations.
"Although AIBA lifted the ban on players and coaches, it does not mean that all
charges have been resolved," Kim said.
KOC secretary-general Choi Jong-joon will serve as acting KABF president until
the 18-month suspension ends, according to Kim.
The 15-member South Korean squad for the world championship tournament will leave
for Italy late this week as originally scheduled by the KABF.
brk@yna.co.kr
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