Olympic boxing chiefs back referee in disqualification controversy

The International Amateur Boxing Association has claimed that the referee was only following the rules after controversially disqualifying Iran's Ali Mazaheri during his bout with Cuba's Jose Larduet.

The referee disqualified the Iranian for three warnings for holding, and the AIBA has reiterated its rules in defence of the official.

"The Iranian boxer received three warnings during his bout," the AIBA told Reuters.

"According to Rule 12.2.1 of the AIBA Technical & Competition Rules, 'only three warnings may be given to the same boxer in one contest. The third warning brings automatic disqualification'."

The referee had previously awarded Mazaheri two point for a low head from Larduet.