High Court Refuses to Interfere in Sarita Devi's Ban

The Delhi High Court Monday declined to interfere in the one-year ban imposed on boxer L. Sarita Devi by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the refusal of Boxing India (BI) to appeal against it.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw disposed of a plea observing that no appeal has been filed by BI against AIBA order and the court cannot direct it to file an appeal.

"As no appeal against the order passed by AIBA on December 17, 2014 has been filed to revoke her (Sarita Devi) suspension, court can not direct the same," said the bench.

The court was hearing a plea seeking direction for BI to appeal against the AIBA decision that banned Sarita Devi for refusing to accept her 2014 Asian Games bronze medal.

Sarita, who had refused to accept the medal to protest her controversial semi-final bout loss, has been banned retrospectively from October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2015 and fined 1,000 Swiss Francs.

The central government had earlier told the court that the ministry had written to AIBA and requested it to take a lenient view considering her humble background and controversy-free image to spare her a career-ending ban.

The PIL challenging AIBA's decision to suspend the boxer was filed by senior advocate Rajiv Dutta who told the court that BI and the government are 'killing a valuable talent by not appealing against the AIBA decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) situated in Lausanne for settling disputes'.

He further told the court that the boxer can not appeal against the decision in her individual capacity.