Indian female boxer Sarita Devi banned for 1 year for refusing to accept medal at Asian Games

NEW DELHI – The Indian female boxer who refused to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games was banned for one year.

World governing body AIBA backdated the ban on Sarita Devi to the day of the incident, Oct. 1, Boxing India said on Wednesday.

It was a lighter-than-expected penalty, given that AIBA president CK Wu told The Associated Press last month the boxer would be “heavily punished.”

Boxing India president Sandeep Jajodia said it worked hard for Devi.

“There was apprehension that Sarita would be banned for life, but BI continuously worked to get relief for Sarita, trying to impress on AIBA that she is a disciplined boxer,” Jajodia said.

Devi, suspended since the incident, was also fined 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,040), and India’s Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez was banned for two years.

Devi was angered by the judging in her semifinal loss in the 60-kilogram division, and showed her displeasure at the medal ceremony, refusing to let the medal be placed around her neck, and handing it the South Korean who beat her. Park Ji-na left it on the podium.

Devi apologized, and the India delegation said her action was not premeditated.

Devi missed the women’s world championships last month, but will be eligible to return in time to try to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.