Badminton duo banned for on-court fight
Thai player Bodin Issara has been banned for two years following a fight with former doubles partner Maneepong Jongjit, the Badminton World Federation has announced.
His compatriot Jongjit has also been suspended for three months for his part in the incident, which occurred during last month’s Canada Open in Richmond, British Columbia.
The BWF has taken a hard line after footage of the extraordinary incident during the men’s doubles final spread quickly via the internet.
Issara was seen chasing Jongjit around the arena and then raining several blows to his body after catching up with him.
The pair, who reached the quarter-finals at the London 2012 Olympics together, were competing against each other having ended their partnership earlier this year.
The referee warned both players following a verbal exchange early in the match but troubled flared again during a change of ends.
Issara, 22, was found guilty of five breaches of the BWF’s code of conduct relating to inappropriate conduct, oral abuse, physical abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct and conduct contrary to the integrity of the game.
Jongjit, who was alleged to have hit Issara with his racket early in the confrontation, was found to have breached the sections on inappropriate conduct, oral abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Both players have been given 21 days to appeal against the sanction but have already been hit by bans of similar lengths by the Badminton Association of Thailand.
