S. Korea's top sports body dismisses boxing chief

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top sports body said Friday it has
withdrawn its backing from the chairman of the nation's amateur boxing federation
in the face of strong criticism for remarks he made at a public seminar in 2007.
The decision by the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) came after a Seoul court ruled
last month that Yoo Jae-joon should be dismissed as chairman of the Korean
Amateur Boxing Federation (KABF).
Yoo had been suspended for two years since March 2007 after he made controversial
remarks at a seminar, but the KOC "conditionally" lifted the ban in May 2008. Yoo
was elected as the KABF chief in January this year and the KOC approved him,
triggering strong protests from KABF members.
Four KABF members asked the court in April to order the KOC to cancel Yoo's
appointment as the top boxing official.
"We respect the court's ruling and we decided to nullify our approval of Yoo's
KABF chairmanship," the KOC said in a statement. "KOC President Park Yong-sung
has already approved the decision. As a result, Yoo lost his post."
Separately from the case, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) had
suspended Yoo for 18 months for sending an unauthorized team doctor to an
international competition earlier this year.
brk@yna.co.kr
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