The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has received news that three Romanian boxers, who were accredited for the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007, broke the AIBA Code of Ethics whilst staying in Chicago. A police report indicates that Messrs Marius Bogdan Dinu, 21, Ronald Gavril, 21, and Gabriel Julian Stan, 20, were caught shop lifting in the Nordstrom Department Store in Chicago on Friday evening October 26, 2007.

AIBA considers this type of conduct completely unacceptable and sent all three athletes and the Romanian team manager home on Sunday. The three boxers had already been knocked out of the tournament while all four persons received a life ban from AIBA.

"This misbehaviour tarnishes the image and reputation of AIBA and the sport of boxing, all other federations and the other athletes competing in the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007," AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu said. "The measures AIBA has taken are a strong illustration of the new AIBA and its zero tolerance for misbehaviour inside or outside of the ring and a reminder to all teams that all team managers are responsible for the actions and movements of their athletes at all moments during the tournament."

After this incident, President Wu reaffirmed to all participating team delegates on Sunday morning, AIBA's stance on intolerable behaviour while the President of the Romania Boxing Federation Mr. Rudel Obreja issued a public apology to AIBA, the Local Organizing Committee and the athletes participating in the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007.  AIBA also urged all team managers to sign a "Commitment to the AIBA Code of Ethics".

Meanwhile, President Wu also issued severe sanctions against the following officials: Suren Ghazaryan (ARM), Seppo Lujanen (FIN), Shadrack Monethi (LES) and Radisa Saric (SRB). All four have been removed from refereeing and judging duties for the remainder of the competition. Nasrollah Deishad (IRI) and Alvin Sargent (BAH) have been removed from refereeing duties only but will continue as judges.

The AIBA Referees and Judges Commission will continue its evaluation process over the coming days at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007 in order to select a final group of 25 referees and judges (from a total of 70 at the start of the tournament) for the finals.

For further information, please contact AIBA PR and Communications manager Richard Baker on +1 773 26 999 06