AIBA bans Romanian boxers for shoplifting

Three Romanian boxers including the team's manager were dismissed from the world championships as they were caught stealing at a department store.

Photo: AIBA bans Romanian boxers for shoplifting

Marius Bogdan Dinu, Ronald Gavril and Gabriel Julian Stan were caught shoplifting at Nordstrom's on Friday night, according to a release from the International Boxing Association. Chicago police had no information on the case, a spokesman said.

The three boxers and Romania's team manager were sent home Sunday, and the president of the Romania boxing federation issued a public apology to the AIBA, the organizers of the World Boxing Championships and other athletes.

Dinu, a heavyweight; Gavril, a middleweight; and Stan, a featherweight, were already out of the world championships after losing their first bouts.

"This misbehavior tarnishes the image and reputation of AIBA and the sport of boxing, all other federations and the other athletes competing in the (world championships)," AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu said in a written statement. "The measures AIBA has taken are a strong illustration of the new AIBA and its zero tolerance for misbehavior inside or outside of the ring."

The AIBA also announced "severe sanctions" against four judges: Suren Ghazaryan of Armenia; Seppo Lujanen of Finland; Shadrack Monethi of Lesotho; and Radisa Saric of Serbia. They will not be allowed to judge or referee the rest of the competition, which runs through Saturday.

Two other judges, Nasrollah Deishad of Iran and Alvin Sargent of the Bahamas, won't be allowed to referee, but can continue to judge. The AIBA did not say why the six were being punished.