An independent investigation commissioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) found that more than 10 boxing matches at the 2016 Rio Olympics were likely corrupted by officials involved in manipulating bouts.

An independent investigation commissioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) found that more than 10 boxing matches at the 2016 Rio Olympics were likely corrupted by officials involved in manipulating bouts. Richard McLaren, the head of the independent investigation, revealed that a "system for the manipulation of bouts" by officials existed at the Rio Olympics. The official Twitter handle of AIBA posted: "Prof. McLaren's investigation revealed a system for manipulating results at Rio 2016. Our boxers deserve a fair fight." "AIBA is committed to uncovering the truth and acting on it. AIBA will take all necessary steps to ensure justice for the past, and a fair future," it added. ALSO READ | Manny Pacquiao retires from boxing: From street kid to superstar, here's a look at his career As per the report, the investigators had not been able to ascertain the exact number of manipulated fights, although it could be as high as 11. McLaren said the first of three stages of the investigation looked into the refereeing and judging at Rio, where controversial decisions in certain bouts made the headlines. Prof. McLaren's investigation revealed a system for manipulating results at Rio 2016. Our boxers deserve a fair fight. AIBA is committed to uncovering the truth and acting on it. AIBA will take all necessary steps to ensure justice for the past, and a fair future. pic.twitter.com/qErQYSoL1n — AIBA (@AIBA_Boxing) September 30, 2021 × "The seeds of this were sown years before, starting from at least the Olympic Games of the 21st century through the events around 2011 and London 2012," McLaren told a news conference in Lausanne. "The qualifying competitions along the route to participation in Rio in 2016 were the practise ground for the corruption and manipulation of bouts at Rio. "At the Olympic qualifiers, the manipulation methodology was fine-tuned in anticipation of use in Rio." McLaren said he could not comment on whether the results of manipulated bouts would be overturned, saying that was not up to him to decide as the lead investigator. ALSO READ | Beijing Olympics rules out overseas fans over virus threat "The information we have will be turned over to the boxing federation," he added. "If they think there's justification in declaring that the bout was manipulated then, based on the rules at the time, the decision will have to be made." The report said a comprehensive study suggested at least nine bouts were suspicious while two bouts caused the system to "publicly collapse". Those include the gold medal heavyweight bout between Russia's Evgeny Tischenko and Kazakhstan's Vassily Levit as well as the bantamweight quarter-final between Ireland's Michael Conlon and Russia's bronze medallist Vladimir Nikitin. Tishchenko won the gold medal to a chorus of boos from the crowd on a unanimous points decision even though Levit seemed to have landed more punches. Conlan lost on a controversial split decision to Vladimir Nikitin, leading to the Irishman going on an expletive-laden rant on live television after the loss. Ching-Kuo Wu, then-president of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), and then-executive director Karim Bouzidi had been complicit in allowing the corruption to happen, it added. Taiwan's Wu and Frenchman Bouzidi were, McLaren said, "key actors in organising the field of play to allow the manipulation to flourish". (With inputs from agencies)

Was boxing in Rio Olympics 2016 rigged? Independent probe reveals shocking details of 'bout manipulation'

Russia&#39;s scandal-mired sports minister said today that four more officials have been suspended over allegations of state-run doping as the International Olympic Committee weighs banning the country from the Rio Games. 
 
Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport news agency that his adviser, Natalya Zhelanova, senior sporting officials, Avak Abalyan and Irina Rodionova, and Moscow anti-doping laboratory deputy head, Yury Chizov, were all temporarily suspended after being named in a bombshell report released on Monday. 
 
A damning report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) detailed an elaborate cheating scheme run by the sports ministry that affected 30 sports with help from the FSB state intelligence agency. 
 
The Kremlin on Monday pledged to suspend all those implicated and deputy sports minister Yury Nagornykh, described as the point man for running the programme, became the first head to roll. 
 
The WADA probe by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren quoted Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov as saying it was &quot;inconceivable&quot; that Mutko did not know about the whole doping system. 
 
But the Kremlin has said that it is sticking by Mutko and he insisted that there &quot;were not and cannot be any allegations directed against me&quot;. 
 
&quot;Everything the minister does is always connected only with the fight against doping,&quot; he told R-Sport. 
 
In connection with the report, WADA also called on FIFA to investigate Mutko, a member of the football world body&#39;s executive, over drug failures in football. 
 
While it found no smoking gun directly linking Mutko to the broader programme to protect drug cheats it said Mutko took the decision to cover up the doping case of a foreign player in the Russian football league. 
 
(AFP)

Vitaly Mutko said his adviser, along with two sporting officials and Moscow anti-doping laboratory deputy head, were temporarily suspended

Russia's scandal-mired sports minister said today that four more officials have been suspended over allegations of state-run doping as the International Olympic Committee weighs banning the country from the Rio Games. Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport news agency that his adviser, Natalya Zhelanova, senior sporting officials, Avak Abalyan and Irina Rodionova, and Moscow anti-doping laboratory deputy head, Yury Chizov, were all temporarily suspended after being named in a bombshell report released on Monday. A damning report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) detailed an elaborate cheating scheme run by the sports ministry that affected 30 sports with help from the FSB state intelligence agency. The Kremlin on Monday pledged to suspend all those implicated and deputy sports minister Yury Nagornykh, described as the point man for running the programme, became the first head to roll. The WADA probe by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren quoted Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov as saying it was "inconceivable" that Mutko did not know about the whole doping system. But the Kremlin has said that it is sticking by Mutko and he insisted that there "were not and cannot be any allegations directed against me". "Everything the minister does is always connected only with the fight against doping," he told R-Sport. In connection with the report, WADA also called on FIFA to investigate Mutko, a member of the football world body's executive, over drug failures in football. While it found no smoking gun directly linking Mutko to the broader programme to protect drug cheats it said Mutko took the decision to cover up the doping case of a foreign player in the Russian football league. (AFP)

Russia suspends four more anti-doping officials

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Was boxing in Rio Olympics 2016 rigged? Independent probe reveals shocking details of 'bout manipulation'

Russia suspends four more anti-doping officials