THE Games and Amusement Board has stepped up its drive to stamp out shenanigans that put the Filipino boxers at risk.
As a result of its more stringent clean-up drive, the regulatory agency suspended 70 boxers who were found to have submitted fraudulent CT Scan records to get their fight licenses.
GAB chairman said the boxers are now barred from fighting after they were found to have medical records that were either tampered or produced illegally.
“The blacklisted boxers are barred from fighting. Their licenses will only be activated upon submission of new CT scans,” said Mitra, who signed the ban order with commissioners Eduard Trinidad and Matthew Gaston.
The Board released the Order on GAB Case No. 04-17( Motu Proprio complaint vs Lory Abeleda, et. al.), dated July 7, 2017 which “ordered the BLACKLISTED and BARRED from applying for or renewing his license, transacting sith GAB, or otherwise acting as a professional licensee of the Board, until further orders of the Board upon submission of the original copy of their CT scan results”.
Mitra said the GAB's medical section observed irregularities in the CT scan results submitted by the boxers. After further investigation, they were proven to be fake and tampered.
The GAB has not yet released the names of the boxers and their managers pending further investigation.
The CT Scan is one of the requirements for boxers to obtain professional license from the GAB. Boxers who lost by knockouts are also required to get CT Scans to prove their fitness to fight again after medical suspension of at least 60 days.
“As a regulatory body, we must ensure that boxers are fit to fight. It is for the boxers’ welfare and health. The integrity of the sport also depends on the integrity of the licensing process of GAB,” Mitra said.
Mitra clarified, however, that the blacklisted boxers “have a chance to re-apply for license once they submit CT scans that will pass the scrutiny of the GAB Medical Section.”
“I want to make it clear that the boxers in the attached list still have the fair opportunity to apply for licenses or renewal,” Mitra added.
Senator Manny Pacquiao has a proposed bill to create the Philippine Boxing Commission and one of his reasons was the alleged inadequate steps of the GAB to protect the safety of the boxers.
Mitra prides himself of having a zero incidence of ring casualty since assuming the GAB chairmanship in July last year. He has already banned several boxers for fighting abroad without permission from GAB.