Please click here for AIBA statement in regards to officiating at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
An R&J investigation is currently underway, the statement reads.
The World governing body confirm it has been decided that all 36 R&Js that were used at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will not officiate at any AIBA event until the investigation reaches its conclusion.
AIBA have also disbanded its R&J 5-star programme.
Irish squad in Thailand.
The Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association (IATBA) had to settle for double bronze after Christina Desmond and Kenny Okungbowa lost their semi-finals at the World University Championships in Thailand.
Okungbow was beaten by France’s Dylan Bregeon in a 91kg slug fest at Chaing Mai University.
Neither man had to go looking for each other, with the Athlone heavyweight twice needing attention from the ringside medic in the first round for wounds to his brow sustained in his quarter-final win.
Bregeon’s jab proved to be his most effective weapon, while Ogungbowa found the target with the majority of the power shots throughout the three rounds.
Kenny Okungbowa
The 2015 Irish Elite finalist went for broke going down the final stretch, backing his opponent up against the ropes, but Bregeon smothered the attacks en route to victory.
Earlier today, Desmond was beaten on a majority decision by Polish middleweight Natalia Hollinska.
The Cork southpaw, landing heavy shots, took the first two rounds across the board, with the Chinese R&J awarding her a 10-8 frame in the first.
Christina Desmond and opponent today
But Holinska won the last two stanzas, with Desmond received a public warning for holding with 30 seconds remaining in the final round.
The final scores read 38-37,37-37,38-37 to Holinska following a see-saw four rounder.
Desmond remarked that she was proud to wear an Irish vest at the 7th edition of the tournament and thanked all for their well wishes.
“So I’ll have to settle for a bronze medal!After four very tough rounds with an older more experienced women, a public warning in her favour separated the final judgement, said the Irish Youth Olympian and World Youth silver medallist.
“I am very proud to have worn the Irish singlet out here in Thailand on behalf of my country, my college (Limerick Institute of Technology), my county and of course my family.
“For me, this is my first Senior International medal and at 20 years of age it will be definitely one to remember.
“Thank you al for all the messages, well wishes, phone calls and encouragement over the past number of days, for now it’s time to explore a bit of this beautiful country,” added the current Irish Elite champion.
Okungbowa’s and Desmond’s bronze medals are the first medals Irish boxing has won at this level.
“Kenny gave an excellent performance considering that he went into the ring with two cuts over his eyes. That would be enough to cause most people to give a walkover but that thought was never even in Big Kenny’s mind, said Irish coach Paddy Gallagher.
“Therefore he had to roll his way in under the 6ft 5inch Frenchman. This he did as best he could but he also had to contend with not upsetting the referee who cautioned him for the head being low.
“The cuts opened in the first round and the referee brought Kenny to the ringside doctor a few times throughout the bout but each time, he was allowed to continue.
“Overall, I am very happy with his performance today. He left it all in the ring and that’s all we can ask for. Likewise with Christina earlier today. Two excellent performances by both boxers who will be bringing home our first World Universty Championships medals,” added Gallagher, views echoed by team manager Paul Geoghegan.
Anton Zaitcev of Russia and Chin Nein-Chen of Chinese Taipei won the corresponding heavyweight and .middleweight semi-finals this morning.
Today’s defeats brings Ireland’s competitive interest in the tournament to an end. Desmond and Okungbowa will be presented with their medals during Friday’s finals.
7th World University Championships Thailand, October 3/8
October 3rd
Last 16
75kg: Conor Wallace Ireland) lost to Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine) TKOI3
October 4th
Q/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Zura Kussainova (Kazakhstan) 3-0
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Tadas Tamasuskas (Lithuania) 2-1
October 5th
Q/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 1-2
60kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) lost to Temirian Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-3
October 6th
S/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Natalia Hollinska (Poland) 0-2
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) lost to Dylan Bregeon (France) 0-3
IATBA Squad
51kg Ceire Smith – Cavan BC & DCU
60kg Gary McKenna – Old School BC Monaghan & University of Ulster
75kg Christina Desmond – Fr Horgans BC & LIT (Bronze)
75kg Conor Wallace – St Monica’s Newry & University of Ulster
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa – Athlone BC & AIT (Bronze)
Team manager: Paul Geoghegan
Coach: Paddy Gallagher
Irish squad in Thailand.
Please click here for Thursday’s semi-final schedule at the World University Championships in Thailand.
Cork middleweight Christina Desmond and Athlone heavyweight Kenny Okungbowa are between the ropes in the last-four tomorrow morning versus Poland and France.
Both boxers are guaranteed at least bronze – the first medals the Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association have claimed at this level – from the 7th edition of the tournament.
Boxing begins at 8am on Thursday morning (Irish time).
Ceire Smith and Gary McKenna bowed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage today. Team manager Paul Geoghegan hailed both performances.
He said: “Ceire and Gary gave it everything they had, but it just wasn’t their day. They can both be very proud of their efforts as I am of them. Let’s hope that the Irish fortunes change for the rest of the week.”
Chinese Taipei and Russia and China and Russia clash in the corresponding middleweight and heavyweight semi-finals tomorrow.
Thursday’s action will be screened live here.
7th World University Championships Thailand, October 3/8
October 3rd
Last 16
75kg: Conor Wallace Ireland) lost to Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine) TKOI3
October 4th
Q/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Zura Kussainova (Kazakhstan) 3-0
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Tadas Tamasuskas (Lithuania) 2-1
October 5th
Q/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 1-2
60kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) lost to Temirian Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-3
October 6th
S/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Natalia Hollinska (Poland)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) v Dylan Bregeon (France)
IATBA Squad
51kg Ceire Smith – Cavan BC & DCU
60kg Gary McKenna – Old School BC Monaghan & University of Ulster
75kg Christina Desmond – Fr Horgans BC & LIT (Bronze, at least)
75kg Conor Wallace – St Monica’s Newry & University of Ulster
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa – Athlone BC & AIT (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: Paul Geoghegan
Coach: Paddy Gallagher
Ceire Smith and Gary McKenna lost out in their bids to join Christina Desmond and Kenny Okungbowa in the semi-finals of the 7th World University Championships in Thailand this morning.
The Irish pair dropped verdicts to France’s Wassila Lkhadiri and Temirian Osmonov of Kyrgyzstan in the 51kg and 60kg classes at Mai Chaing University.
Smith, aiming for a semi-final meeting with Japan’s Sano Kawano, lost to Lkhadiri in the flyweight category over four, two minute rounds.
The multiple Irish Elite champion held her composure in the face of Lkhadiri’s constant aggression in the first two frames of today’s encounter, finding the target with well-timed combinations, but eventually bowed out on a split.
McKenna was involved in a high-tempo duel with Osmonov over three, three minute rounds in the lightweight class. The evasive Kyrgyz connected with some slick shots throughout, while McKenna’s constantly took the fight to his opponent and detonated some big punches off both hands going down the final stretch of a see-saw encounter.
Desmond and Okungbowa will now carry the flag for the Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association into Thursday’s semi-finals.
Both athletes are guaranteed at least bronze at the tournament, Ireland’s first medals at this level since the inaugural World University Championships in 2004.
“Ceire was disappointed with how she boxed as she knows she has more class and quality than she showed on the day. Some days it just doesn’t happen!,” said Irish coach Paddy Gallagher.
“Gary felt he did enough in the first and the third. The scores in the end gave the first round against him and gave the last to him and the second to the Kyrgyzstan boxer. I felt he shaded the first, lost the second and the third was down to what the judges wanted to see.
“The Kyrgyzstan boxer was clever in his movement and is deceptively clever in what he does. Both Irish boxers left the ring intact and healthy and will fight another day.”
Irish team manager Paul Geoghegan hailed the performances of both boxers.
He said: “Ceire and Gary gave it everything they had, but it just wasn’t their day. They can both be very proud of their efforts as I am of them. Let’s hope that the Irish fortunes change for the rest of the week.”
Thursday’s semi-finals begin at 8am (Irish time).
Pictures: Smith and McKenna and opponents in today’s quarter-finals.
7th World University Championships Thailand, October 3/8
October 3rd
Last 16
75kg: Conor Wallace Ireland) lost to Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine) TKOI3
October 4th
Q/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Zura Kussainova (Kazakhstan) 3-0
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Tadas Tamasuskas (Lithuania) 2-1
October 5th
Q/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 1-2
60kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) lost to Temirian Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-3
October 6th
S/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Natalia Hollinska (Poland)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) v Dylan Bregeon (France)
IATBA Squad
51kg Ceire Smith – Cavan BC & DCU
60kg Gary McKenna – Old School BC Monaghan & University of Ulster
75kg Christina Desmond – Fr Horgans BC & LIT (Bronze, at least)
75kg Conor Wallace – St Monica’s Newry & University of Ulster
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa – Athlone BC & AIT (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: Paul Geoghegan
Coach: Paddy Gallagher
.
Christina Desmond and Ken Okungbowa claimed at least double bronze for Irish boxing at the 7th World University Championships in Thailand today.
The Cork and Athlone middleweight and heavyweight beat Kazakhstan’s Zuar Kussainova and Lithuania’s Tadas Tamasuskas on unanimous and split decisions at Chiang Mai University.
The verdicts guarantee Irish boxing its first ever medals at this level.
“Absolutely delighted with the win, I always felt in control and hopefully I can make the final now,” said current Irish Elite champion Desmond after her convincing victory.
Okungbowa, who rattld his opponent with a big shot in the first, was involved in a very tight affair with Tamasuskas, who needed attention for a cut in the second round. The Irish Elite finalist needed precautionary attention to nicks over both eyes after the fight, Irish coach Paddy Gallagher confirmed.
The injuries were described as superficial by medics.
Both Desmond and Okungbowa will be aiming to upgrade to at least silver on Thursday versus Poland and France.
Ceire Smith and Gary McKenna are in action tomorrow morning (Irish time) in the last-eight of the tournament. The Irish pair are between the ropes in the 2nd and 5th bouts on the program which begins at 8am (Irish time).
The Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association are using a five-strong squad in south east Asia.
7th World University Championships Thailand, October 3/8
October 3rd
Last 16
75kg: Conor Wallace Ireland) lost to Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine) TKOI3
October 4th
Q/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Zura Kussainova (Kazakhstan) 3-0
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Tadas Tamasuskas (Lithuania) 2-1
October 5th
Q/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Wassila Lkhadiri (France)
60kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) v Temirian Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan)
October 6th
S/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Natalia Hollinska (Poland)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) v Dylan Bregeon (France)
IATBA Squad
51kg Ceire Smith – Cavan BC & DCU
60kg Gary McKenna – Old School BC Monaghan & University of Ulster
75kg Christina Desmond – Fr Horgans BC & LIT (Bronze, at least)
75kg Conor Wallace – St Monica’s Newry & University of Ulster
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa – Athlone BC & AIT (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: Paul Geoghegan
Coach: Paddy Gallagher