IOC sanctions three boxers for betting on fights at Rio Games

Two Irish and a British boxer were on Wednesday given "severe reprimands" by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for betting at the Rio Games in August.

Bantamweight Michael Conlan, 24, and welterweight Steve Donnelly, 27, both of Ireland, and British middleweight Antony Fowler, 25, were further ordered to take part in various IOC educational programmes in order to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, reports Xinhua.

The IOC said it also issued the Olympic Council of Ireland and the British Olympic Association with reprimands for not properly informing its athletes on Olympic rules on gambling.

All three boxers placed bets on boxing events during the Games.

The IOC said they violated Rio 2016 rules on the prevention of the manipulation of competitions. However there was "no intent to manipulate any event".

None of the boxers won medals.

The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions was approved in December 2015 by the IOC board and in effect for the Rio Games.

--IANS

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