AIBA urged to take lenient view on Sarita Devi: Centre to HC

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it has written to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) requesting it to revoke the provisional suspension of boxer Laisram Sarita Devi for refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games in South Korea.

In view of the submission made by the Sports Ministry, a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji asked the government to put its stand on an affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on January 14, 2015.

The ministry in its letter to AIBA has requested it to take a lenient view and not take any further action against her, saying she comes from a humble background and has risen very high in her sport due to her hard work, therefore her suspension would have a demoralising effect on other aspiring sportspersons.

Meanwhile, today the Disciplinary Committee of AIBA has imposed a one-year ban against Sarita Devi. The court was hearing a plea challenging AIBA's decision to suspend the boxer.

The plea filed by senior advocate Rajiv Dutta has sought a direction to the Centre to take due cognizance of the rules and regulations framed by Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) situated in Lausanne for settling disputes.

It also seeks a direction to the Centre to exercise its inherent power to direct the respective local federations and associations situated in its jurisdiction to incorporate the CAS Arbitration Clause within their respective rules.

It has alleged that there is absolutely no clarity on resolution of disputes in the event that an international body like International Boxing Association takes any coercive action against individual sportspersons, as has occurred in the case.