Michael Conlan has called for those involved in manufacturing bouts at the Rio Olympics to face criminal charges for sporting fraud.
This week, it was announced that an independent investigation into the Olympic boxing competition at Rio 2016 had determined that an informal bout manipulation system existed, with Conlan's match against Russia's Vladimir Nikitin among those deemed "suspicious".
The head of the investigation commissioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Professor Richard McLaren outlined his main findings at a press conference in Lausanne, Switzerland on Thursday.
He revealed that "approximately nine bouts" were "suspicious beyond the two raised in the media at the time", the latter of which included Conlan's loss to Nikitin.
Conlan has now called for criminal charges to be levelled at those implicated and has urged the AIBA to award
"I was reigning world champion, the No 1 seed, and favourite for gold in Rio and I had my dream ripped away from me – how do you put a price on that?" he told the Guardian. "To be honest I had put it to bed, but reading the report has given me hope of justice.
"But for justice to be served it won't be enough for anyone involved in corruption to be kicked out of the sport," he said. "This is white-collar crime. This is sporting fraud. Those involved should be charged as criminals.
"After I called AIBA corrupt in Rio, they fined me 10,000 Swiss francs for speaking out," he added. "I never paid it, but if I ever want to work in amateur boxing as a coach or trainer I would have to give them the money before returning.
"How can it be right that I am fined for speaking the truth and reacting like any normal person would – while those responsible for corruption may not face anything like that?"
Outlining the findings in his report, McLaren said that the qualifying tournaments of 2015 and 2016 in the lead-up to the Rio Games were the "practice ground for the corruption and the manipulation of the bouts at Rio" and "fine-tuned in anticipation of its use" at that year's Olympics.
It involved "complicit and compliant referees and judges to be assigned to specific bouts to ensure the manipulation of outcomes", he added.
The report found judges were often "preyed upon by those with corrupt motives". Qualifying events for Rio became the practice ground where manipulation methods were "fine-tuned", the report said.
Meanwhile, Joe Joyce believes he should be awarded an Olympic gold medal after an independent investigation highlighted his defeat at Rio 2016 was one of 11 bouts suspected of being manipulated.
The Londoner settled for silver five years ago after being on the wrong end of a split decision to France's Tony Yoka in their super-heavyweight final, one of several controversial judging decisions at the Games.
Joyce is aghast at the news and has called on AIBA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to act.
He said in a statement on his social channels: "I firmly believe that I was the winner of the match with Tony Yoka and deserved the gold medal. But on the day I did not get that decision and at the time I accepted that.
"I have scanned the McLaren report and have read that there was corruption in AIBA and that corruption affected the result of my gold medal match.
"If corruption has taken place, and it appears that it has, I trust AIBA and the IOC will ensure the integrity of the sport is upheld and award me the gold medal.
"I will be considering the report in detail with my legal team and await the decision of AIBA and the IOC. Corruption should never be allowed to succeed."
Current AIBA president Umar Kremlev said of the report: "I am determined to ensure that boxers receive a fair fight. This determination is demonstrated by AIBA's clear commitment to uncovering the truth and acting on it.
"We must now carefully examine the report and see what steps are needed to ensure justice. What is important is that we make sure the mechanisms are in place to show that results are above suspicion."
We truly understand your frustration. The new AIBA leadership are working hard to right the wrongs of the past. We commissioned this report as a way to unearth corruption in previous eras. We are doing everything we can to make up for the mistakes made. https://t.co/98glOQRQkC
— AIBA (@AIBA_Boxing) September 30, 2021
AIBA was suspended and barred from organising the boxing competition at Tokyo 2020 after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) task force review of the sport's governance, management, refereeing and judging.
The IOC directly oversaw the competition in Japan instead.
AIBA has been warned boxing's place at the 2024 Games in Paris is in jeopardy unless shortcomings identified in the review are addressed.
