Independent report claims boxing matches in 2016 Olympics manipulated

By Huseyin Burak Demirer

ANKARA (AA) - A report of an independent sports consulting firm in Canada on Thursday claimed that the results of the 2016 Summer Olympics' boxing matches have been manipulated by a system.

"Professor (Richard) McLaren and his team (at McLaren Global Sport Solutions) have identified a system for manipulating the results of bouts at the Rio 2016 boxing tournament. I am determined to ensure that boxers receive a fair fight. This determination is demonstrated by AIBA’s clear commitment to uncovering the truth and acting on it," AIBA President Umar Kremlev said.

AIBA -- the International Boxing Association -- said in the statement that it previously appointed McLaren Global Sport Solutions (MGSS) to investigate the "Rio 2016 boxing tournament" and other "key events" until this year.

MGSS was also asked to probe "the activity of individuals previously involved in the management and administration of AIBA."

"AIBA hired Professor McLaren because we have nothing to hide," Kremlev said.

Richard McLaren is an expert in sports law and a law professor at an Ontario university.

"There should be no place in the AIBA family for anyone who has fixed a fight," Kremlev added.

"In the vicinity of 11, perhaps less, and that's counting the ones that we know were manipulated, problem bouts or suspicious bouts," including the medal fights in Rio de Janeiro, McLaren said.

MGSS will also monitor and check referees, judges, and technical officials appointed to the 2021 AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Belgrade.

Men’s World Boxing Championships will start on Oct. 24 in the Serbian capital.

Kremlev was the secretary-general of the Russian Boxing Federation in 2017.

Then in 2018, he joined the AIBA board.

In 2020, Kremlev became the AIBA president.