By Paul Osborne

Sarita Devi has been provisonally suspended by the AIBA after refusing her medal at the Asian Games in Incheon ©Getty ImagesIndia's Sarita Devi has been provisionally suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) after her protest on the medal podium at the Asian Games in Incheon last month, meaning she will miss next month's World Championships. 

Devi refused to accept her bronze medal during the lightweight division medal ceremony following a controversial decision by the judges in her semi-final bout with South Korea's Ji-Na Park.

The AIBA opened a disciplinary case against the boxer afterthe incident which has now decided to suspend the athlete, along with her coaches and Indian Chef de Mission Adille J Sumariwalla, from all competitions, events and meetings until further notice.

"AIBA Executive Committee Bureau decided today October 21, 2014 to provisionally suspend Laisham Sharita Devi, her coaches (Messrs Gurbakhsh Singh Sandhu, Blas Iglesias Fernandez and Sagar Mai Dhayal) as well as Adille J Sumariwalla, Chef de Mission - India, who were all present at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, and not to allow any of them to participate at all levels of AIBA Competitions, Events and Meetings until further notice," AIBA said in a statement.

"This case has been sent for review by the AIBA Disciplinary Commission, and it means that Laisham Sharita Devi, the above mentioned coaches as well as Adille J Sumariwalla will not be allowed to participate to the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships Jeju 2014."

Sarita Devi handed her bronze medal to South Korean silver medallist Ji-Na Park during the medal ceremony after her anger at losing the semi-final bout ©Getty ImagesSarita Devi handed her bronze medal to South Korean silver medallist Ji-Na Park during the medal ceremony after her anger at losing the semi-final bout ©Getty Images


Devi was left devastated and furious after judges voted unanimously in favour of Park in the pair's lightweight semi-final, despite dominating the encounter.

At the medal ceremony the 29-year-old refused to wear her bronze medal before placing it around the neck of the South Korean, who eventually finished runner-up in the event.

The AIBA took dimly to her reaction with technical delegate David Francis branding the stunt a "well-planned scenario by her and her team".

He added: "It is regretful to watch a boxer refuse the medal regardless of what happened in the competition."

Devi later apologised to the Olympic Council of Asia for the incident before sending a written apology to the AIBA for her "emotional outburst".

But AIBA look to have set an example to her and her team through this provisional suspension.

Reacting to the news, Devi has allegedly said she is unaware of the development and will only act when she gets a formal word from AIBA, according to the Times of India.

"I have not received any communication from AIBA as of now," she said.

"When I will see the letter, I will decide what I have to do."

The newspaper also reports that coach Sandhu said: "We have got the notice from AIBA and we have to reply to it in seven days time.

"We are preparing our reply and hopefully the matter will be resolved."

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