Thai Olympic Medalist Upset Over Three Month Ban
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Thai Athens Olympic Games bantamweight silver medalist Worapoj Petchkhoon is upset over the three-month ban imposed on him by the president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand – Gen. Taweep Jantararoj.
As a result of the ban for modeling in a Thai Gay Magazine “Stage”, Worapoj will not be able to compete in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos.
However, Gen Taweep was quoted by the Thai newspaper Khao Sod as saying Worapoj would noy have made it to the SEA Games team in any case due to his poor performance and reported lack of discipline.
Worapoj, who won a silver medal in the bantamweight division at the Athens Games was reportedly upset when he learned about the ban and Khao Sod reported that the Olympian claimed he was not treated as favorably as some other national squad members.
Gen. Taweep responded and said the three-month ban on Worapoj is the lightest penalty the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT) could force on the boxer for his decision to appear scantily-clad in the gay magazine.
He also said Worapoj would not be qualified for the SEA Games in Laos at the end of this year even without the ban, as the athlete was not well disciplined and often skipped training, resulting in poor physical condition.
General Taweep said he did not favor any particular national squad member and would treat each of them equally and promote them based on their ability and discipline. He praised Worapoj for possessing talent and experience that is superior to his international rivals in the same weight class.
The ABAT president indicated that Worapoj would be summoned to the national squad when the ban has expired.
