Cuba Protests Olympic Boxing Decision

HAVANA TIMES — Calling it “unfair,” the Cuban Boxing Federation on Sunday protested the decision not to overturn the ruling that ordered the elimination of boxer Jose Angel Larduet from the Olympic boxing competitions.

“We reiterate our position and we believe that the analysis made by the jury of the event should have concluded that our athlete won the bout,” said the president of the Cuban Federation, Alberto Puig de la Barca.

Cuba formally presented its protest concerning over-permissiveness of Slovakian referee Rene Just in relation to the constant holding and slapping by the Italian fighter Clemente Russo, who was declared the winner in a fight paving the way for a bronze medal against Cuba’s Larduet.

The jury at the London Games recognized the errors committed by the referee but assigned only two additional points in favor of the Cuban athlete, thus making the vote an official 12-12 draw. This then made it necessary for an appeal, which — with a vote of 37-32 — left the victory in the hands of the European fighter.