During a press conference yesterday, president of the Guyana Olympic Association K. Juman-Yassin disclosed that Duane Crandon and Eusi Watkins jumped ship in Miami, while returning home.

“They left us in a state of shame. These heartless and ruthless boxers have created a great embarrassment, not only to me and the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), but to all sports persons,” Juman-Yassin declared.

The sport administrator, however, commended Ryan O’Neil for coming back honourably. He returned with National Coach Lennox Daniels.

Juman-Yassin stressed genuine athletes, who apply for U.S. visas, could now be denied the necessary travel document to enter U.S. territories.

“It’s difficult at present to get visas. It will become more difficult. I can’t blame the Americans now,” Juman-Yassin said.

One boxer and the manager of the touring party were denied visas for the trip, while the other boxer did not go for the interview because he was injured.

“As a result of the stab in the back, Guyana will not be able to participate in the third qualifying series in Colombia,” Juman-Yassin disclosed.

Juman-Yassin, who is also the GABA head, said participation the Caribbean Championships billed for the Bahamas was also in jeopardy because he doubted funds could be raised after this incident.

The three boxers all failed to get past the first round of the qualifiers, the best performance recorded by O’Neil, the lone boxer who returned home, getting a 9-10 loss to a Barbadian. The referee stopped the contest in round one of Watkins’ bout and Crandon lost 3-18.

On March 23 the touring party left here, arriving in Mexico on March 26. They left the host country on April 4 and arrived at Miami that same night at 20:08 hrs.

Daniels went to check at the BWIA office, leaving the three boxers together. On return, O’Neil told him the other two went to search for something. After they did not show up, Daniels went to search for them then reported the matter to the police in Miami.

A Committee of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the incident, with Justice Rudolph Harper as the chairman and Charles Woon-A-Tai as a member. Noel Adonis will also be approached to be on the team.

One boxer, Dormain Norville, had not returned on a similar trip, a few years ago.

Juman-Yassin disclosed that the boxers have been in training for the past year, with some US$6 696 being spent on the trip, the money coming from the GOA for the airfare and ancillary expenses.

The GABA head said no help came from the Ministry of Sport, but the New Building Society donated a sum, and an entity that wanted to remain anonymous also made a donation.

Juman-Yassin said he wrote to the sport minister on January 30, informing about the international engagement and soliciting assistance, but got no reply. He then asked the GABA secretary to write on February 19, who got a reply on March 3, inviting the boxing body to a meeting on March 6.

“Nothing tangible materialised from that meeting,” Juman-Yassin said.

The GABA head said he again wrote to the minister on March 28 about the Caribbean Championships in the Bahamas for which a team of 19 boxers, a manager and three coaches would be sent, but to date no reply.

“We cannot participate without financial assistance from the government,” Juman-Yassin said.

Juman-Yassin again reiterated that he belonged to no political party, or any youth arm of any political party.

“I am not anti-government. I just say things as I see them,” Juman-Yassin declared.

The GOA head also reported on a meeting he attended in Buenos Aires recently in which there were elections of the South American Olympic national associations. The president of the Brazil association was elected the region’s president and was given the mandate to select the other committee members.

Also, the city to host the 2006 South American games was voted for, with Bolivia getting the nod over Chile.