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Turkmen Referee, Azerbaijan Official Expelled After Boxing Controversy


Turkmen referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov (center) was criticized for allowing Azerbaijan's Magomed Abdulhamidov (left) too much time to recover in his bout with Japan's Satoshi Shimizu (right).
Turkmen referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov (center) was criticized for allowing Azerbaijan's Magomed Abdulhamidov (left) too much time to recover in his bout with Japan's Satoshi Shimizu (right).
A Turkmen boxing referee and an Azerbaijani technical official have been expelled from the London Olympics after their display in a controversial amateur boxing match.

Referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov was criticized for not stopping a contest on August 1 between Japan's Satoshi Shimizu's and Magomed Abdulhamidov of Azerbaijan, who repeatedly fell to the floor in exhaustion.

Meretnyyazov was also accused of giving Abdulhamidov too much time to recover. The Azeri was inexplicably awarded a 22-17 decision by judges, which was changed to a win for Shimizu after an appeal.

Azerbaijani official Aghajan Abiyev was also expelled for breaking his contract by communicating with his country's team.

On August 1, German referee Frank Scharmach received a five-day suspension after he controversially disqualified Iranian heavyweight Ali Mazaheri.

Mazaheri was disqualified after he received three warnings for holding his opponent in a fight he was leading 6-4 on points.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

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