Russia Accuses Olympic Boxing Of Shadiness

At this point, boxing couldn't even beat its rap as a sham if it paid off every person who ever thought about boxing. Things are especially bad for your sport, though, when the Russians are accusing you of being below board. That's exactly what Russian sports minister, Vitaly Mutko has said about the London Olympics, specifically lamenting the Russian results in both men's and women's boxing.

"The Brits are just as [bad] as [the Chinese] in Beijing," Mutko told Russian media on Saturday. "Here in London everyone wants the British to win. They have a very strong political support."

"Three of our boxers had been prevented from reaching the final," Mutko said, referring to the light-flyweight David Ayrapetyan, flyweight Misha Aloian and welterweight Andrei Zamkovoy, who lost their semi-final bouts. Ayrapetyan lost to Thailand's Kaeo Pongprayoon 13-12, Aloian lost to Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar 15-11, while Zamkovoy lost to Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev 18-12.

I know what you're thinking. "Prevented from reaching the final?" That does sound shady, but if you do a google translate for Paranoid Russian, it just means "lost."

Mutko added that Britain's boxers may have benefited by a partisan home crowd swaying the judges. "[The British] are planning a happy end in boxing tomorrow," he said after three British men advanced to Sunday's finals.

Expect Olympic organizers to kick Mutko out of the arena shortly.

Russian sports minister accuses Britain of unfair play at London 2012 [Guardian]

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