Boxing Judges, Referees Removed From Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (CBSNewYork/AP) — The International Boxing Association has removed an undisclosed number of referees and judges from the Olympics after determining they had not met the organization's standards of competence.

AIBA announced the decision Wednesday, declining to disclose the judges' names or the bouts in which they failed.

MORE: Medal Count | Day 12 Photos

The results of all bouts will stand, however.

The AIBA said in a statement that "less than a handful" of the first 239 bouts had been deemed incompetently judged or refereed.

Russian heavyweight Evgeny Tishchenko's victory over Kazakh Vassiliy Levit sparked a wide public outcry over the decision, which rewarded Tishchenko's retreat over Levit's power and excitement.

AIBA executive board member Tom Virgets told The Associated Press that the result is likely to be a catalyst for changes in the organization's judging criteria.

Irish bantamweight world champion Michael Conlan also complained vociferously and profanely after his quarterfinal loss to Russia's Vladimir Nikitin on Tuesday, accusing AIBA and Russia of wholesale corruption.

Despite the high-profile problems, the Rio Olympics have featured fewer judging controversies than in previous recent games.

AIBA moved from a punch-counting system to a traditional 10-point pro scoring system three years ago. Judges are still training in the system's nuances, but the change has been well received.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)