BBBoC responds to Iain Weaver with an Open Letter of their own

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Iain Weaver’s Open Letter to the British Boxing Board of Control, which was emailed to various members of the boxing press earlier this week by a director of the Malta Boxing Commission, Rio Di Caro, has drawn the following response from the Board.

1. The BBBofC is not accustomed to making public the medical condition of persons who apply to it for a boxer’s licence.

2. In this instance Iain Weaver has invited the BBB of C to do so in his “open” letter published on the 18th November 2013.

3. It is without doubt that Mr. Weaver has an arachnoid cyst on his brain. All doctors are agreed upon that.

4. It is without doubt that there is an increased risk, however small, that he could suffer a haemorrhage as a result of trauma to the head. All doctors are agreed about that.

5. In those circumstances the Stewards of the BBB of C, having carefully considered all the medical evidence, concluded that it was not in the interests of Mr. Weaver, the interests of the sport of professional boxing or the public interest to grant him a licence to box. As far as the BBB of C is concerned the health and safety of the boxer is paramount.

6. The position of Robert Turley is different. He does not have an arachnoid cyst. Doctors instructed by him made that clear. Indeed, they clearly differentiated his condition from an arachnoid cyst which was recognised as increasing the risk of haemorrhage as a result of trauma to the head.

7. Mr. Turley’s doctors convinced the Stewards of the BBB of C that there is no increased risk of haemorrhage as a result of trauma to the head in his case. Hence he was granted a licence to box.

8. No legal proceedings have been brought by Mr. Turley against the BBB of C. That is not the reason he was granted a licence. Even if legal proceedings had been brought the Stewards of the BBB of C would not have granted him a licence to box if they had concluded that there was an increased risk of haemorrhage as a result of trauma to the head.

9. Whilst the Stewards of the BBB of C understand the disappointment and emotions caused by their refusal to grant Mr. Weaver a licence, it is unfortunate that he has decided to make untrue accusations against and impute improper motives to them. The BBB of C is there to grant licences to persons to box provided, amongst other criteria, such persons are medically fit to box.

10. Mr. Weaver’s application was dealt with objectively in the same way as any other application and the Stewards made their decision in good faith.

11. The Stewards take no pleasure in refusing any application to box made by anyone, particularly someone as talented an amateur boxer as Mr. Weaver.

12. In addition, a number of the Board Stewards are considering legal action regarding this matter.

(Click here to read the original letter on Boxing News).

 

 

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