Payla, Tipon vie in int’l meet to silence Thais

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez said yesterday they’re fielding Violito Payla and Joan Tipon in an event in Azerbaijan to dispel rumors the two Doha Asiad gold medallists were taking banned substance.

"If they’re allowed to join there, it would mean they’re not suspended, which would also mean that the accusations thrown at them are all lies," said Lopez.

The Nation, an English news daily in Thailand, recently ran stories speculating that Payla and Tipon tested positive for illegal drugs during the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Thailand boxing chief Taweep Juntararot was even quoted as saying that he has invited Amateur International Boxing Association president Ching Kwo Wu to attend the medal presentation they are preparing for their boxers should Payla and Tipon be stripped of the gold.

If it happens, Somjit Jongjohor, who lost to Payla in the flyweight finals, and Worapoj Petchkoom, who was beaten by Tipon in the bantamweight semifinals, would take the gold and silver medals, respectively.

The Azerbaijan event, dubbed the Silk Road Cup and held under the aegis of AIBA, is one of the tournaments to be participated in by Filipino pugs in their preparation for this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

Roger Fortaleza, ABAP’s secretary-general, said the Thais were just finding excuse for their defeats to the Filipinos in the recent Asiad.

Thailand, which finished second to RP in the Manila SEAG, predicted a five-gold medal haul in Doha but went home with just one, finishing fourth in the medal tally behind Kazakhstan, China and the Philippines.