The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has launched an independent investigation to review the case of Rashed Al-Swaisat, the 19-year-old boxer from Jordan who passed away after sustaining an injury to the head.
Rashed Al-Swaisat was a member of the Jordanian national boxing team and last month, he took part at the Youth World Championships which was being held in the city of Kielce, Poland across a span of two weeks.
On 16th April during his under-81 kg fight against Anton Vinogradov of Estonia, Rashed suffered a head injury during the third round of the fight, and had to be rushed to a hospital in Poland. After undergoing an emergency brain surgery, the teenager died after 10 days in the hospital.
AIBA determined to learn the exact cause of Rashed’s death
To determine the exact cause of Rashed’s death, AIBA has initiated an investigation, with the governing body president Umar Kremlev insisting that he was “determined” to ensure taking lessons from the youngster’s untimely demise.
“AIBA is determined to ensure that we learn every possible lesson from Rashed’s tragic death,” said AIBA prez Kremlev, “boxing has made huge progress in terms of safety and we are fortunate that such injuries are extremely rare in our sport. The wellbeing of boxers is our top priority and we are grateful to have the support of independent experts in protecting boxers’ health.”
The investigation will be headed by Dr Vincent Gremeaux, Head of the Centre for Sport Medicine of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), and Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Biology (Institute of Sports Sciences, and Orthopaedics and Trauma).
“I am pleased to provide my support to AIBA in this matter,” said Professor Gremeaux, “my specific tasks as an independent expert are to help clarifying the exact course of events that led to the boxer’s death and to review the protocols and treatments that were followed and administered on the occasion of this accident.”
