Rio robbery victim Michael Conlan laughs at the news AIBA will plan ‘honest’ and ‘transparent’ 2016 Olympic investigation

Michael Conlan has laughed at the news the IABA are going to investigate the Rio robberies.

AIBA President Umar Kremlev has revealed a fresh investigation is set to be launched by the asociation into the conduct of judging and refereeing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Kremlev revealed the situation is part of a series of reforms approved by the governing body’s Board of Directors and has stressed the importance of carrying out an “honest” and “transparent” investigation.

However, Conlan, the most high profile victim of scandalous adjudication in Rio has laughed at the news, seemingly questioning the point in a self investigation.

Upon discovering the plans Conlan simply tweeted:

Is this a self investigation? Lol https://t.co/T6jKhBeuSn

— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) April 23, 2021

The now Top Rank pro’s scemptism is understandable considering how badly he was robbed against Vladimir Nikitin just under five years ago and the stories which surrounded that defeat.

Although not as noticeable at the time there have also been questions raised with regard to Joe Ward and Katie Taylor’s exits, Wards being particularly dubious.

Such was the controvsary surrounding boxing in the last installment of the Games, that it’s presence in future Olympic was under threat. All 36 referees and judges used for the boxing tournament at Rio 2016 were suspended by AIBA over corruption concerns and will not be allowed to officiate at Tokyo 2020 or any qualifying events.

The IOC took over from the IABA and set up their own qualification system and we await to see how Tokyo runs.

It’s not the first time the IABA have investigated the matter. An internal AIBA probe found there had been “strong suspicion surrounding [former executive director] Karim Bouzidi and the five-stars referees and judges”.

The AIBA investigation, which was never published, reportedly did not accuse Bouzidi of manipulating the tournament due to a lack of evidence.

It did, however, reportedly “uncover evidence that the executive director used his authority to get referee and judges changes made in some bouts”.