Foreign
TURKEY’S boxing federation chief Eyup Gozgechas has attacked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for going ahead with a recent qualifying tournament in Britain for the Tokyo Games.
The attack came after the team members tested positive for the coronavirus.
“While the whole world was taking extreme measures to deal with the virus, I am baffled that an IOC taskforce and the British government allowed the tournament to start even though many of us had concerns and almost every other sport had shut down.
“It was irresponsible. And as a result, unfortunately, three of our team have now tested positive,” Britain’s Guardian paper quoted federation boss Eyup Gozgec late Wednesday.
The tournament in London with some 350 athletes from 40 countries, was halted after the third day, March 16, over the growing outbreak.
The Tokyo Games are are now postponed until 2021.
The Turkish boxing federation said that boxer Serhat Guler and coach Seyfullah Dumlupinar have come down with the Covid-19 disease.
A third name was not mentioned but the statement said the federation was awaiting test results from two other athletes who showed symptoms.
“All of them are in treatment now and thankfully they are in good condition,” Gozgec said, according to the report.
The Guardian said Gozgec planned a complaint to the IOC and would also ask for a refund of the costs they had to pay in advance for the tournament.
“This is the disastrous result of the irresponsibility of the IOC taskforce.
“They did not consider anyone’s health, which led them to organise this horrible event,” he said.
NAN
– March 27, 2020 @ 12:32 GMT
Tags: Turkey attacks IOC after boxing team members contract coronavirus
