CHICAGO, Oct 29: Three fighters from Romania were thrown out of the World Boxing Championships after they were caught trying to steal from a department store in Chicago, the organisers said on Sunday.

Richard Baker, head of public relations for the International Amatuer Boxing Association (AIBA), said in a statement that the boxers Marius Bogdan Dinu, 21, Ronald Gavril, 21, and Gabriel Julian Stan, 20, were caught by surveillance cameras in the Nordstrom department store as they attempted to make off with merchandise.

“The AIBA considers this type of conduct incompatible with its code of ethics,” the AIBA release said, adding that the trio had been ordered home, along with the chief trainer of the Romanian squad.

Their results in the competition have been nullified, and they will be banned from amateur boxing for life.“This misbehaviour tarnishes the image and reputation of AIBA and the sport of boxing, all other federations and the other athletes competing in the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2000,” said AIBA President Wu Ching-Kuo of Taiwan.

“The measures AIBA has taken are a strong illustration of the new AIBA and its zero tolerance for misbehaviour inside or outside of the ring and a reminder to all teams that all team managers are responsible for the actions and movements of their athletes at all moments during the tournament,” Ching-Kuo added.—AFP