Ismayl Sillakh tests positive!

[locoxelbox]

From Fight News:

According to several sources in the national press, Ukrainian amateur star and boxing celebrity Ismail Sillakh will turn pro in the close future. Light heavyweight Sillakh, the silver medalist of both Euro (2006) and world (2005) amateur championships and the winner of 2001 under-17 world championship, clinched an Olympic license to take part in the Beijing Olympics but controversially tested positive on doping soon thereafter and disqualified. No comments were made by the boxer yet.

Anybody knows something more? I wonder who will replace him?

[emile]

That would be a shame - I'd like to see him in action since I missed him at Chicago. As for his potential replacement, you'd think it would have to be one of three possibilities - Bahram Muzaffer, Gottleib Weiss, or Anastasios Berdesis, but I'm not too good at predicting these things. In any case, it looks like the 81kg field will get yet a little weaker.

[locoxelbox]

As for his potential replacement, you'd think it would have to be one of three possibilities - Bahram Muzaffer, Gottleib Weiss, or Anastasios Berdesis, but I'm not too good at predicting these things.

Not bad Emile.

From AIBA:
Olympic Qualified Boxers update 01.07.2008
Mr. Anastasios Berdesis (GRE) has been selected by the Tripartite Commission to compete in the 81kg division of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China after AIBA issued a two-year suspension to Mr. Ismayl Syllakh (UKR) due to a violation of Anti-Doping Rules.

Mr. Syllakh had qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games at the 1st AIBA European Olympic Qualification Tournament in Pescara, Italy.

The AIBA Executive Bureau had given the responsibility of finding a boxer to fill the vacant position in the 81kg division to the Tripartite Commission.

[Gray-Fox]

What are people's thoughts about the use of drugs in the amateur boxing game?

I'm hearing it's more prevalent than some of us may think, and that the doctors are years ahead of the testing process. I believe the Eastern Europeans are juiced up as well as the Chinese. They have a history of it, and why should now be any different?

[boxmel]

What are people's thoughts about the use of drugs in the amateur boxing game?

Considering the reported, or known, incidents are low to nil, I don't think it's a problem. I definitely don't think our sport is riddled with drug abusers.

[emile]

Tanzania's only Olympic Qualifier, 57kg Emiliano Polino (Patrick) has been removed after being arrested in Mauritius for drug possession during the African Cup of Nations. He beat Aldina Muzeyi of Uganda to qualify in a third-place match, so that would likely be the replacement.

In the same case, the President of the Boxing Federation of Tanzania was also arrested for trafficking heroin.

[boxmel]

Sigh. Some people do some very stupid things. Still a minority, I would think.

[Gray-Fox]

I dunno, the Russians and Chinese don't exactly have a clean record in this area. Both are still run by totalitarian, win-at-all-cost governments (the fact that the Olympics is even in China is a disgrace in itself). It wouldn't surprise me if either country had a complex drugs program in place.

[boxmel]

I dunno, the Russians and Chinese don't exactly have a clean record in this area.

True, but the sport doesn't have a known majority of elite athletes getting caught. It's more of an every-once-in-a-while thing that pops up, therefore I still consider the possible number of bad guys a minority.

[ogii3]

As i know he will go to USA to start his pro career. I spoke with his future manager, who do not want to tell more, including his name, but he is one of the biggest names in pro bussines. Sillah is very talanted and atractive.

One Greek fighter is caught also with doping. His name will be known in next days

[boxmel]

Thanks, Ogii, for the sad news. I hope doping doesn't become prevelant and/or a big problem for our sport. Are you going to the Olympics?

Mel

[locoxelbox]

One Greek fighter is caught also with doping. His name will be known in next days

Greece only qualified three boxers and one of them replaced Syllakh!

[emile]

It would be a shame if it were Pavlidis, who has some good results in his history, and might be a candidate to medal.

[Gray-Fox]

Cheating scum.

They should be banned from all forms of boxing for life.

[emile]

It was Berdesis who has been removed. So the replacement gets replaced himself. The new fighter at 81kg is Bahram Muzaffer of Turkey - well deserving and only 21. Also, Nickson Abaka was replaced by Precious Makina of Zambia due to injury.

The list of qualified boxers is now final.

[Canada]

The replacement for the fighter using drugs is using drugs himself? Man that really makes boxing look as bad as the Tour De France

[emile]

By the way, Sillakh debuted last week and is already having his second fight tonight in San Diego.

[boxmel]

Hmmm - wondr if the CSAC is aware of his drug use......

[ogii3]

Thanks, Ogii, for the sad news. I hope doping doesn't become prevelant and/or a big problem for our sport. Are you going to the Olympics?

Mel

Yes, i will be there, but will have a lot of work and I am not sure if will be able to watch a lot of boxing tournament :( Especially, when we have only two fighters.

Tomorrow will go to make a special article with Pulev and Georgiev in the boxing hall in Sofia for my edition and will enter in the ring to make some sparing with them, which will be a part of the story :) Will be great and exciting at the same time :)

[boxmel]

Have a great time, Ogii!!! Try and watch as much boxing as you can. A shame to go to the Olympics and not see our favorite sport. :(

[Gray-Fox]

Hmmm - wondr if the CSAC is aware of his drug use......

You should inform them. I certainly would.

[boxmel]

You should inform them. I certainly would.

I did and got a big "thank you."

[emile]

Roman Romanchuk was detained in Vladivostok after getting into an altercation, which ended with Romanchuk taking the other guy's gun and shooting him in the eye. Romanchuk is training with the Russian team in Vlad. although he's of course not in the Olympic competition. It does make Colorado Springs sound a little better though.