We haven't appealed to CAS: Indian contingent

The Indian contingent said it had not lodged a formal protest with the Court of Arbitration for Sports over boxer Vikas Krishan's ouster from the Olympics 69kg bout though it had an earlier stated that it had a sent an appeal letter to the world sports' top tribunal.

"This mail is to clarify that NOC India never submitted a formal protest to CAS on bout no. 142 between Vikas Krishan and Errol Spence of USA and hence the news item in the Indian Media that CAS rejected India's protest/appeal is totally false," said contingent's chef-de-mission Brig P K Muralidharan Raja through a media statement.

Saying that the contingent had sent a preliminary mail to CAS on the issue and that they had proposed to submit a formal protest on the result of the bout, Raja said when it became clear that 'field of play decisions' are generally not entertained in the CAS, it was decided to rest the case and not pursue it any further as it was non-maintainable.

"India did not formally submit a protest to CAS and hence the question of CAS rejecting India's appeal does not arise," Raja added.

However, Raja, in his earlier media release on August 4, had stated that India had submitted an appeal letter to CAS general secretary Matthiew Reeb on August 4 against AIBA's decision to reverse Vikas's win over Spence.

"The appeal letter was sent to Matthiew Reeb, Secretary General, CAS at 1945 hrs on 4 August 2012. The weighing in and medical for quarterfinal bouts of 69 kgs will be held on 7 August 2012," the release had said.

"We have submitted a Preliminary Complaint in writing to CAS against the reversal of decision of bout between Vikas and Errol Spence of USA in 69kg wherein the Jury of AIBA reversed the decision of Vikas winning the bout and announcing it in favour of Errol Spence," it said.

"The counter appeal submitted by India to AIBA was not accepted by them on the grounds that their Jury has already reviewed the bout and given its decision. India's stance was that the fouls committed by Errol Spence in round 2 & 3 were not considered by AIBA and they only took into account the points lodged in the protest by USA."