Istanbul (AFP)
The Turkish Boxing Federation denounced without taking gloves on Thursday the inadequacy of sanitary measures during the European qualifying events for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which took place in mid-March in London and at the end of which Turkish sportsmen were tested positive for the new coronavirus.
These trials were suspended on March 16 amid growing fears linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, which claimed the lives of several thousand people worldwide.
But for the head of the Turkish Boxing Federation (TBF) Eyup Gozgeç, the damage was already done: three Turkish boxers and a trainer tested positive for the new coronavirus on their return from London.
"As the (coronavirus) fire spread around the world, they acted as if nothing had happened. They should have postponed the tests," Gozgeç told AFP.
The tournament, which was to last until March 24, started on March 14 in front of spectators at the Copper Box Arena, involving some 350 boxers from dozens of different countries.
Initially, the organizers announced that the event would continue behind closed doors, before finally opting for its suspension.
"I blame the boxing working group of the International Olympic Committee and the British committee (...) There was no protective measure: no hydroalcoholic gel or gloves," added Mr. Gozgeç.
"All the coaches and players were accommodated in two hotels. We all ate together in a sort of canteen. There were no warnings, no measures, as if the epidemic had not taken place there" , he lamented.
Mr Gozgeç said he had sent letters "to the competent authorities" to complain about the situation.
He says his family tried to dissuade him from going to London. But he went there saying "that measures had necessarily been taken, since it was a tournament for the Olympic Games".
"The United Kingdom is a developed G8 country, but it has missed this ordeal," said Gozgeç.
He himself has been in quarantine for nine days and says he "is fine".
© 2020 AFP