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Ireland's John Joe Nevin will fight for gold tonight. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

BBC sued over boxing 'cash for medals' allegation

The broadcaster last night repeated claims that the AIBA accepted a $10M bribe to arrange gold medals for Azerbaijan.

WITH THE MEN’S Olympic boxing medals to be decided this weekend, the sport’s governing body have announced it is sueing the BBC over repeated allegations of ‘cash for medals’.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has begun legal action after the broadcaster yesterday repeated that boxing medals could be bought at London 2012.

Two Azerbaijani boxers – super heavyweight Magomedrasul Medzhidov and heavyweight Teymur Mammadov – both lost in yesterday’s semi-finals, leaving them with bronze medals.

No other Azerbaijani boxers are left in the competition.

The BBC repeated the allegation first made in a Newsnight documentary last September that around $10m had been paid from Azerbaijan to boxing authorities in return for two golds.

Both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and AIBA investigated the BBC’s original claims, failing to find any wrongdoing and now the governing body are hitting back.

“In September last year the BBC alleged that AIBA took a $10 million bribe from Azerbaijan in exchange for two gold medals at the Olympic Games in London,” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu in a statement.

“Both AIBA and the IOC investigated the claim and could find no evidence to support it. The BBC re-broadcast the allegation last night (in a website report), on the eve of the semi-finals, having been told it is untrue.

“Therefore I have today instructed the London libel firm PSB Law to begin legal action against the BBC.

“I have worked extremely hard over the past six years to clean up Olympic boxing after years of corruption scandals under the previous administration and I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by the BBC.”

- © AFP, 2012

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14 Comments
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Aug 11th 2012, 3:44 PM

    Nobody can accuse us of buying medals because we’re broke…

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    Mute Jones Frank
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    Aug 11th 2012, 3:50 PM

    If the do accuse us we’ll get Katie to kick the shite outta them

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    Mute Jones Frank
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    Aug 11th 2012, 3:51 PM

    They

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    Mute dominic hoffmeister
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    Aug 11th 2012, 3:55 PM

    The BBC should be sued for bias in their coverage.
    Imagine a “local”swimmer,who finished last,being interviewed while the new world record holder is ignored.

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    Mute Michael Hegarty
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    Aug 11th 2012, 5:36 PM

    In fairness, its a British Broadcaster, so they should interview their own first. If you dont like watching british TV, tune into RTE, where you will see winning snd losibg Irish interviewed. As the Olympic provider, BBC are streaming over 400 feeds for each National Station to choose what they wish to broadcast.

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    Mute Andrew L
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    Aug 12th 2012, 2:38 AM

    I didn’t think the BBC were providing the TV rights to the Olympics. Is it not an independent TV company that is responsible for all the footage.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Aug 11th 2012, 4:56 PM

    If the Azerbaijanis did pay $10m for gold, they should look for a refund!!

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    Mute mcbab
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    Aug 11th 2012, 6:10 PM

    Go away David.

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    Mute Dexter Gordon
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    Aug 12th 2012, 10:21 AM

    Why should he?

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    Mute Jason Naughton
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    Aug 11th 2012, 7:18 PM

    Don’t remember any Irish politicians kicking up a fuss about the 6 or 4 do you?

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    Mute Patrick Lyons
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    Aug 11th 2012, 5:23 PM

    This is strange. The BBC is usually pretty fair.

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    Mute David Conch Condon
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    Aug 11th 2012, 5:51 PM

    Ye like how they reported on the Troubles and on the Guilford 4 and the Birmingham 6 convictions..Ye fair indeed.

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    Mute Dave
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    Aug 11th 2012, 4:09 PM

    DId they not show the interview on RTE (IRISH Television). Maybe it was the Olympic broadcasting service which was responsible http://www.obs.es

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    Mute Alan Larkin
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    Aug 12th 2012, 1:33 AM

    I’m going to miss their Red Button!

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