Uzbekistan boxer Khavasbek Asadullaev faced severe repercussions after being stripped of his Asian Championship gold medal for biting his opponent, Kazakhstan boxer Ablaikhan Zhusupov, during a match. The incident, reported by Podrobno.uz, occurred in the 71 kg weight category bout held in Thailand on December 11.
Despite initially winning the fight, Asadullaev’s victory was overturned following a formal protest by the Boxing Federation of Kazakhstan. They highlighted the unsportsmanlike conduct when Asadullaev bit Zhusupov on the shoulder during the match.
The Asian Boxing Confederation reviewed the incident and ruled it a serious violation of boxing ethics, leading to Asadullaev’s disqualification. As per boxing regulations, when a boxer is disqualified, their opponent is automatically declared the winner. Consequently, the gold medal was awarded to Zhusupov, cementing his status as the rightful champion of the event.
This controversial decision has stirred debates within the boxing community, shedding light on the importance of discipline and adherence to sportsmanship in competitive boxing.