Romania protests decision in boxing loss

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- Romania has officially protested the loss of Olympic boxer Marian Simion, accusing the referees of not being fair, sports newspapers reported Sunday.

Romania's Boxing Federation lodged a protest Saturday, saying the decision to give Ramadan Yasser of Egypt a 36-24 victory in the round of 16, 75-kilogram bout was incorrect, the online daily Gazeta Sporturilor reported. Simion, a two-time Olympic medalist, is one of Romania's best boxers.

Rudel Obreja, the general manager of the Romanian Boxing Federation, filed the complaint immediately after the match but was pessimistic.

"We know there is only a very small chance to succeed, because according to regulations a result mustn't be changed," Obreja said. "They will probably suspend the judges, but what good does this do to us? We've lost an athlete."

He was alluding to a decision by Simion to retire. The athlete, an Olympic silver medalist in Sydney and bronze medalist in Atlanta, divulged his decision to the daily Prosport.

"I think I was robbed ... I was convinced I was leading," Simion said.

The International Amateur Boxing Association was to meet on the matter Sunday.