Administrative error costs boxer gold

TEAM PNG was stripped off a gold medal after they failed to meet certain requirements when submitting the proper name of a boxer for the XlV Pacific Games.
The National was reliably informed that the boxing competition manager had stripped the gold medal won by Junior Kaoka Raka and given to Hoani Marescot of Tahiti in the 52kg final.
Raka got the nod from the judges over his Tahitian opponent in the final winning 34-28 but returned home empty handed.
Team PNG boxing officials expressed disgust at the stripping and accused PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee staff members of incompetence.
PNG Amateur Boxing Union officials were caught unaware until after Raka had qualified for the final with the competition manager picking up the irregularity.
A furious team manager Dick Larry called on PNGSFOC and the related bodies to do their jobs diligently and avoid a similar incident in the future.
A upset Raka said both bodies (PNGABU and PNGSFOC) could have done better instead of passing the buck.
PNGSFOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla acknowledged that Raka was a late entrant and therefore should not have been registered for the Pacific Games.
She blamed Larry and PNG boxing coach Joe Aufa for not following protocol or competition rules when entering Raka.
“The boxing officials must have initially convinced the competition manager to include him (Raka) in the boxing tournament.
“I don’t know how our PNG boxing officials did it (entering Raka to fight) but it has cost us a gold medal,” a disappointed Rapilla said.
The PNG boxing team had an impressive Games winning one gold, one silver and three bronze  medals from  a team of eight boxers.