Romanian boxing president breaks safety rules, gets 13-year suspension

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian Boxing Federation president Rudel Obreja has been suspended for 13 years by the International Boxing Association after breaching an original two-year ban imposed for breaking safety rules. The AIBA disciplinary committee said on Friday that Obreja failed to respect the terms of his two-year suspension, which had been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and added 11 years to his ban and fined him 20,000 Swiss francs ($18,000). Obreja organized an event last February in which some fighters did not use headgear, the committee said. The committee also fined the federation 15,000 Swiss francs ($13,500) and suspended it for a month. Romanian daily Gazeta Sporturilor reported Monday that Obreja had vowed to stay on as president and was planning an appeal. Former Romanian fighter Leonard Dorin, the WBA lightweight world champion from 2002-03, said Obreja should step down. "It's not Obreja who is losing but Romanian boxing," Dorin said. "I think the federation should have a new leadership, with projects that are more suited to the current day." Romanian government sports official Doina Melinte has threatened to cut funding to the federation. Melinte won gold in the 800 meters at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. –AP