AIBA Probing Allegations of Rigged Fights

BEIJING, Aug. 22 -- The body that oversees Olympic boxing competition said Friday night it is investigating allegations that some of the fights in this Olympics have been rigged.

Earlier in the day, Rudel Obreja, the International Boxing Association's deputy technical delegate -- or second in charge of competition -- gathered a group of reporters together to say that the organization brought in an extra employee to monitor the random computer selection of match judges and referees and, in many cases, changed the assignments to suit particular boxers.

AIBA then suspended Obreja for holding an unauthorized news conference and admitted that it has been dealing with rumors of match fixing for two months. Head technical delegate Terry Smith said the organization received more information on Friday that led it to begin the investigation, but would not say if the allegations are the same charges made by Obreja.

Smith also said he had information about certain Olympic matches that might be in question and reviewed every one of them on Friday afternoon. He said none appeared to be tainted but would reveal no more information. He did admit that computer judging assignments are sometimes changed but said it is often to avoid potential conflicts.

"AIBA was taking precautionary means even before the [Olympics] to make sure the draw and Games are conducted properly," said Tom Virgets, chairman of USA Boxing.

Flag Bearer Selected

U.S. Olympic team captains voted archer Khatuna Lorig, who is competing for her third nation during these Games, to be the flag bearer at Sunday's Closing Ceremonies, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Saturday morning.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Lorig won a bronze medal while representing the Unified Team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. She competed for Georgia at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney. Sudanese-born Lopez Lomong carried the flag for the U.S. team during the Opening Ceremonies.

"Being named the U.S. flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony is almost like winning a gold medal, maybe even better," Lorig, 34, said. "I thought I could win a gold medal in competition, but I never thought I'd have this opportunity. I am truly, truly so proud to be an American citizen and part of the U.S. Olympic team."

Lorig immigrated to the United States after the 2000 Games, but wasn't eligible for the Athens Games four years ago because she hadn't yet acquired her U.S. citizenship. In the Beijing Olympic tournament, she upset the 10th seed, Ana María Rendón of Colombia, but lost in the quarterfinals.

From Mystics to China

Tom Maher has gone from being another name on a long list of failed coaches of the Washington Mystics to leading China's women's basketball program back into contention for a medal.

China will face Russia in the bronze medal game on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome, Maher has improved a program that finished ninth in Athens in 2004.

"It's been a great time and it's been win-win," Maher said of spending the past four years as head coach of the Chinese national team. "I'd like to see our players compete really well [Saturday] so that win or lose, it's a good ending for us."

Maher, the former coach of the Australian and New Zealand national teams, led Australia to a bronze medal in 1996 and a silver medal in 2000. He was hired in 2001 to bring his unorthodox running style to the Mystics, but despite having Chamique Holdsclaw and Nikki McCray, the team finished tied for a league-worst 10-22 record. He resigned after one season.

Staff writers Amy Shipley and Michael Lee contributed to this report.