BOXING NEEDS CHANGE TO SAVE STATUS
Fighting to keep their sport in the Olympics, boxing officials were warned on Monday to change its historical culture of breaking the rules.
Investigator Richard McLaren said “corruption abounded” in the world boxing body formerly known as AIBA as he delivered a final report commissioned by the new leadership trying to win over the IOC and get reinstated in the Olympics.
McLaren traced a legacy of financial and bout integrity issues to the 2006-17 presidency of C.K. Wu, though he also pointed to continued alleged misconduct at recent boxing tournaments.
The 114-page final investigation report highlighted ongoing concerns with “unjustifiable” judging scores and warnings by referees to boxers, plus secret signaling between officials in arenas.
“The people in the sport must change,” McLaren said. “They have ingrained learned behaviors in a culture that has historically not respected ethics or integrity.”
A total of 22 “high-risk officials” have been removed from selection as part of improved vetting of judges and referees, McLaren said at a news conference, with three cases sent for disciplinary action and 15 more officials placed under stricter monitoring.
Given until mid-2023 to convince the IOC, the rebranded International Boxing Association under its Russian President Umar Kremlev enlisted McLaren to identify its past problems and help drive change.
Tennis
Serena Williams skipped her scheduled practice session at Eastbourne at late notice as the 23-time Grand Slam champion prepares to make her return to competition after a year away.
Williams trained at a nearby club over the weekend and was expected to have an on-site session at Devonshire Park ahead of playing doubles with Ons Jabeur. Their first match is set to come today against Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova.
Soccer
Ryan Giggs quit as Wales men’s coach with immediate effect. He says he doesn’t want his upcoming trial on charges of domestic violence to destabilize the national team heading into its first appearance at the World Cup since 1958.
The Manchester United great has been on leave from his post since November 2020. His assistant, Robert Page, guided the Welsh to the World Cup in Qatar via the European playoffs this month.
Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd joined West Ham from French club Rennes for a reported fee of 30 million pounds ($36.7 million). The 26-year-old Aguerd will add competition to the centerback positions and might also fill in at left back.
Bruce Buck is stepping down as Chelsea chairman. Buck has held the position since 2003 but is leaving following the change of ownership at the Premier League club. Chelsea says Buck “will continue to support the club as a senior advisor.”
Death
Lennie Rosenbluth, the All-America forward who led a North Carolina team with a starting lineup of New Yorkers to an unbeaten season and a victory over Wilt Chamberlain’s Kansas squad in the 1957 NCAA basketball tournament championship game, died Saturday. He was 89.
Also
A college basketball player was killed and eight other people were wounded in an early-morning shooting at a gathering in Harlem, New York City police said. Darius Lee, a 21-year-old senior at Houston Baptist University in Texas who averaged 18.2 points per game, was killed. He grew up in Harlem, attended St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx and was back home for summer break. The wounded included six other males and two females, police said. Houston Baptist coach Ron Cottrell described Lee as a “remarkable young man“and a “joy to coach.”