Laishram Sarita controversy: Boxing India to set-up disciplinary committee

New Delhi: Despite all the clamouring for help and recent open support from Sachin Tendulkar, Laishram Sarita Devi's plight is becoming hopeless, and thus reducing the pride of Indian boxers, their dignity and the right to protest.

Now it seems, Sarita's Incheon Asian Games controversy will be contested altogether in a new set-up, in her own country. On Friday, Boxing India (BI) announced the setting up a disciplinary committee to take actions against the fallible boxer.

BI spokesperson Neetal Narag told a leading English daily yesterday, “A disciplinary committee will be set up by Boxing India to take a stand and discuss the extent of punishment. We will be issuing warning letters to Sarita, her husband and coach Thoiba Singh once Boxing India's registration formalities are complete.”

The spokesperson also said that they have requested AIBA to consider Sarita's past records before coming to any conclusion, which may compromised her boxing career and undermined the sacrifices she made for the sport.

"We have requested AIBA to look into Sarita's past performances before taking any step which could put an end to her career as a boxer," Neetal added.

Sport's national governing body yesterday itself revealed that a show-cause notice will be sent to the boxer and her husband and coach, Thoiba. These latest developments are being seen as a result mounting pressures from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) on the Indian body.

BI president Sandeep Jajodia told a television channel, ”We are in the process of issuing a show cause notice to the coach and husband and we will be informing AIBA about all this. We are hoping that AIBA listens to our plea to be lenient to Sarita and not go ahead with something like as severe as a life ban, which will spoil her career.”

Jajodia, however, said that efforts are on to help Sarita avoid a severe punishment like a life ban.

Earlier, AIBA said that the world body would heavily punish the Indian boxer for refusing to accept a bronze medal in Incheon.

With agency inputs