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2ND AFRICA MILITARY GAMES: FURIOUS OFFICIALS REJECT 8 NIGERIAN GOLD MEDALLISTS
2nd Africa Military Games Boxing Tournament in Abuja, Nigeria, November 18-30
Breaking news:
FURIOUS OFFICIALS REJECT 8 NIGERIAN GOLD MEDALLISTS
▪️ A top Nigerian official claims the boxing tournament is being run under military rules but the opposing officials dismiss their defence describing it as an attempt to win eight gold medals through the back door
Most officials from the 14 participating countries in the African Military Games boxing tournament in Abuja are opposed to eight Nigerian boxers receiving gold medals without stepping into the ring.
The eight boxers – not seven as earlier reported after Nigeria’s coach clarified – have been listed in today’s finals programme but have no opponents.
International Boxing Association (IBA) competitions rule 19.11.4 on walkovers states: “No medal will be awarded to a boxer who has not boxed at least once during the entire competition period.”
Nigeria’s Armed Forces head coach Kehinde Awade however clarified the Abuja competition is being held under military rules.
“The completion is not under IBA rules, this is Africa Military Games there was an agreement before the Games started,” said Awade, a silver medallist at the 1995 African Games.
Uganda’s 2-Star referee and judge Moses Mugagga said he challenged the Nigerian officials to produce the military rules they’re quoting but they didn’t.
“These are just imaginary rules aimed at giving them an easy victory, we opposed it during the weigh-in boxers getting medals they’ve not fought for,” said Mugagga, adding: “What I know is that there are no military rules in boxing, they’ve not showed us the rules. It’s not within the rules to weigh boxers who have no opponents, a boxer can’t just receive a gold medal without having others receive silver and bronze medals.”
Mugagga explained the military cannot operate in isolation from other organisations.
“That’s why they’re affiliated to local boxing federations in Africa which operate under IBA rules,” said Mugagga.
A fuming Ghana’s coach Bernard Nartey wondered why the Nigerians are forcing gold medals on boxers who have not appeared in a single fight.
“Let them win the gold medals fairly by fighting in the ring under IBA rules,” said Nartey alleging one of his boxers was robbed of victory by three Nigerian judges.
“How can you have three judges from one country officiating the same bout.”
It will be interesting to see whether the eight Nigerian boxers will receive their gold medals in the finals tonight and the reaction from the opposing countries.
Besides the dispute on the eight boxers, the boxing competition in Abuja has gone on well without any complaint from the participants.
NENEZ MEDIA SERVICES