Sarita Devi stirred up a hornet's nest by refusing to accept her medal at the 2014 Asian Games.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is threatening strict action against L Sarita Devi, despite her unconditional apology for refusing to accept her medal at the 2014 Asian Games. The veteran boxer on Wednesday said she remains hopeful of her suspension being revoked.
That apology seems to have made no difference to the world body, whose President Ching-Kuo Wu said that AIBA is set to act tough on her, when its disciplinary committee meets on Thursday, in Jeju Islands, Korea, to decide the quantum of punishment for her emotionally-charged protest at the Asian Games.
Sarita has already missed out on the World Championships, scheduled from November 14 in Jeju Islands, Korea, after being provisionally suspended, for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games, following a controversial semifinal loss.
"I am still hopeful that the ban on me would be lifted and I would be allowed to return to the ring and compete in a sport that I love so much," Sarita, a former Asian and world champion, told PTI.
"I have tendered an unconditional apology. I have come to know about what the AIBA President has said, I respect his opinion but I am hoping that the ban would be lifted after my heartfelt apology. I have already pleaded my case and I continue to do so," she added.
Dr Wu on Wednesday stated that Sarita Devi's career is as 'good as over', and she would be heavily punished for a teary protest at the medal ceremony in Incheon, where she tried to hand over her bronze medal to eventual silver-medallist and her semifinal opponent Park Ji-na.
"She will be heavily punished, there will be zero tolerance," Wu told the Associated Press, when asked about the 29-year-old's future.
"If you accept being the winner, you have to accept being the loser. If everyone behaved like that, what type of competition will we have?", he said.
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