USA Boxing - 2004 OLYMPIC ATHLETE SELECTION PROCEDURES

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2004 Olympic Athlete Selection Procedure

I. ATHLETE SELECTION SYSTEM - 2004 Olympic Games The road to be nominated to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team is a multi-step process that culminates with the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs. The steps taken to qualify for these events are as follows: In order to qualify for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, an athlete must earn one of the eight (8) spots per weight class. Once an athlete earns a spot for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, they are eligible compete in the other qualifying tournaments (exception being the Eastern and Western Trials) but they will attend the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials as the representative of the first tournament that they qualified under regardless of how many other spots they earn. Those eight spots can be earned in the following events: 2003 U.S. Challenge (April 4-5, 2003, Colorado Springs, Colorado) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 U.S. Challenge will qualify a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 2003 U.S. Challenge is a tournament that includes only the top 4 athletes in each weight class from the 2003 Senior National Championships. The 2003 U.S. Challenge is used to determine USA Boxing's National Select Team, various levels of athlete stipends and various team selections. The 2003 Senior National Champion in each weight class shall box the 4th place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships, and the 2nd place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships shall box the 3rd place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships. The winners of the #1 vs. #4 bout and the #2 vs. #3 bout will box-off for the #1 and #2 positions and the losers of the #1 vs. #4 bout and the #2 vs. #3 bout will box-off for the #3 and #4 positions on the National Select Team. 2003 National Golden Gloves (May 26-31, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 National Golden Gloves will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the National Golden Gloves by winning one of the 30+ regional Golden Gloves franchise tournaments. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot. 2003 National Police Athletic League Championships (September 20-27, 2003, Toledo, Ohio) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 National Police Athletic League Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 2003 National Police Athletic League Championships is an open tournament and all boxers ages 17-34 are eligible to compete. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot. 2003/2004 Armed Forces Championships (TBD late 2003) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003/2004 Armed Forces Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the 2003/2004 U.S. Armed Forces Championships by winning their individual military championships. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot. 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships (TBD January, 2004) The Gold and Silver medallists in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships by winning one of fourteen (14) regional tournaments, four (4) military tournaments (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy), the National Golden Gloves, the Police Athletic League Championships or by obtaining an at-large position as defined by Article VIII 108.9 (Attachment A). Qualification for the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships occurs in the 12 months preceding the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships. If an athlete finishes first or second in their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot. The top four athletes in each weight class based on the fourth quarter 2003 USA Boxing rankings will be seeded as the top four seeds in each weight class for the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships. If a top-four ranked athlete is unable to compete at the 2003 Senior National Championships in his ranked weight class, the next highest ranked athletes will all move up until the top four seeds in each weight class are filled. Athletes who are ranked in the top four in a certain weight class based on the fourth quarter 2003 USA Boxing rankings who move up or down a weight division will not be seeded in the higher or lower division but will be separated from the number-one, quarterly-ranked boxer in the brackets of their new weight division. 2004 Eastern Trials (TBD January/February 2004) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 Eastern Trials will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Participation in the 2004 Eastern Trials is limited to athletes registered in Local Boxing Committees east of the Mississippi River. Athletes are entered through, and submitted by, each individual Local Boxing Committee. Only athletes who have not already earned a 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials slot are eligible to enter. 2004 Western Trials (TBD January/February 2004) The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 Western Trials will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Participation in the 2004 Western Trials is limited to athletes registered in Local Boxing Committees west of the Mississippi River. Athletes are entered through, and submitted by, each individual Local Boxing Committee. Only athletes who have not already earned a 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials slot are eligible to enter. The above tournaments represent the selection procedures to qualify for the 2004 U.S Olympic Team Trials. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is the next step in the process to be nominated to represent the U.S. in the 2004 Olympic Games. The following is a summary of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials that will be used to select the participants for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (TBD February, 2004) The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is a double elimination style tournament that features the eight qualified boxers from the above tournaments in each of the 11 weight classes. Athletes are seeded based on a blind draw. The winners of both the winner's bracket and the loser's bracket (2 athletes total) qualify for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs (TBD February/March, 2004) The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs is the final step in the selection process for an athlete to be nominated to represent the U.S. in the 2004 Olympic Games. The winner of the winner's bracket and the winner of the loser's bracket from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box each other once at the beginning of the competition. If the winner of the winner's bracket wins this bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. If the winner of the loser's bracket wins, the athletes will box a second time on the last night of the competition. If the winner of the winner's bracket wins the second bout after losing the first bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. If the winner of the loser's bracket wins both the first bout and the second bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. Final selection to the 2004 Olympic Team is contingent upon United States Olympic Committee approval and the fact that each weight class needs to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games through one of three (3) Olympic Continental Qualification Tournaments. The first Continental Olympic Qualifier is the 2003 Pan American Games and the athletes will be selected to participate per the 2003 Pan American Games Athlete Selection Procedures. The Gold and Silver medallist will qualify a spot for the 2004 Olympic Games. The second and third qualifiers are to be determined at a meeting of our Continental Federation (COPABOX) during the 2003 Pan American Games but these tournaments should occur in late March - May, 2004. While we don't know how many athletes qualify at each of these qualifiers, we do know that the Americas region has a total of six (6) Olympic slots per weight class for 106lbs, 112lbs, 119lbs, 125lbs, 132lbs, 141lbs, 152 lbs, 165lbs, and 178lbs and three (3) Olympic slots per weight class for 201lbs and 201+lbs. The athletes who earn the right to be nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team in each weight class also earn the right to attend both the second and third Regional Olympic Qualifiers if their weight class hasn't already qualified at the 2003 Pan American Games. II. DISCRETIONARY SELECTIONS There will be no discretionary selections. III. REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES A nominated athlete who withdraws or is removed from the Olympic Team prior to the 2004 Olympic Games will be replaced by the 2nd place athlete from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Box-Offs. If that athlete is unable to participate (injury, turns professional, discontinues boxing, etc.), the next eligible athlete in rank order finish from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the respective weight division will be selected. If none of the top four finishing athletes are available, the two fifth (5th) place finishers from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box off to see who will be nominated. If neither of the fifth place athletes are available, the two 7th place athletes from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box off. Reasons why an athlete would be replaced are as follows: - Violation of any USOC, USA Boxing or AIBA rule which governs team conduct. (see Attachment C) - Withdrawal due to personal reasons (school, family, etc.) - Arrival at the mandatory training camp more than five (5) pounds overweight. The official camp weigh-in will be following the first camp gym workout. The exact date has not been finalized. - Illness or injury as certified by the USOC's medical staff (inside of 45 days from the start of the 2004 Olympic Games) or by USA Boxing's medical staff (outside of 45 days from the start of the 2004 Olympic Games). IV. TRYOUT SITES AND EVENTS See Section I, "Athlete Selection System." The exact dates and locations of some of these events have yet to be determined, but will be communicated to all athletes at least 90 days prior to each event via Boxing USA magazine, USA Boxing's website (www.usaboxing.org), and through each of the 56 Local Boxing Committees. V. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES USA Boxing will announce the 2004 Olympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures through Boxing USA magazine, USA Boxing's website (www.usaboxing.org) and by mail to each of the 56 Local Boxing Committees. VI. DATE OF NOMINATION USA Boxing will nominate the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team by June 1, 2004. VII. MANDATORY TRAINING USA Boxing will hold several mandatory training camps in the spring and summer of 2004 leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games. While the camp dates and locations have yet to be determined, athletes will be notified at both the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and at the 2004 Olympic Box-Offs. One determining factor in the camp schedule is the dates of the second and third Regional Olympic Qualifiers that will be finalized by COPABOX at the 2004 Pan American Games. If an athlete arrives at any of the camps more than five (5) pounds overweight, the athlete will be removed from the 2004 Olympic Boxing Team and will be replaced using the replacement procedures in Section III of this document. VIII. ATHLETE REPRESENTATION These selection procedures were approved by USA Boxing's International Committee and Board of Directors, both of which have 20% athlete representation (Attachment B). IX. ATHLETE OMBUDSMAN If athletes have questions regarding their opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Boxing, athletes may contact John W. Ruger, USOC Athlete Ombudsman, by telephone at (888) ATHLETE, or by e-mail at john.ruger@usoc.org. X. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER These procedures are based on IOC, PASO and/or AIBA rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in IOC, PASO and/or AIBA rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Boxing. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically have not accounted for every possible contingency. ATTACHMENT A Article VIII 108.9 - At-large entries for USA Boxing tournaments (1) USA Boxing's resident program at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich., shall be allowed to petition one boxer in each weight division for an at-large berth to the U.S. Championships. (2) A boxer who missed an elimination tournament as a result of representing the United States in international competition in which the boxers and supporting staff (coaches, officials, etc.) are approved by USA Boxing are eligible to enter the U.S. Championships as an at-large entry, subject to verification and approval by the LBC in which the boxer is registered. (3) Boxers who represent the United States in national and international competitions sponsored by USA Boxing or AIBA shall be excused from participating in any tournaments that they had previously entered, provided, however, that these tournaments or competitions and corresponding travel and training are held simultaneously. (4) At-large boxer defined (a) Any boxer, who at the time of his LBC or regional tournament was involved in an international bout in which the boxers and supporting staff (coaches, officials, etc.) were approved by USA Boxing, or was traveling from an international bout, domestic or foreign, is eligible to enter as an at-large boxer for the U.S. Championships. (b) Any boxer who is injured in an international bout or training session leading to an international bout, or injured at the Olympic training camp while training for an international bout, can apply as an at-large boxer within 30 days. (c) Any boxer so injured must have proof of an injury and doctor's approval that the boxer is fit for competition. (d) Time to prepare for participation in international competition. A boxer who has received notice of selection for international competition shall be considered in training from the date of written notice and shall not be required to participate in LBC or regional competition. The boxer shall have the option to participate, but shall forfeit the right to at-large status if losing in such competition. (e) Time to rest after participating in international bout. If a boxer arrives home from international competition 10 or more days before an LBC tournament, said boxer cannot apply for at-large status. A boxer, after arriving home and having missed the LBC tournament, will be eligible to enter the regional tournament. (f) Regional Tournament. Sections 108.8(2)(below) and 108.9(4)(a-d) apply to regional tournaments. (g) All entrants must apply to USA Boxing's At-large Committee for at-large status in national USA Boxing tournaments. Article XIII 108.8 (2) Regions having boxers in the U.S. Championships which have been granted at-large status under Section 108.9 shall have the option of having the at-large boxer or the boxer on the regional team represent the region for team points. In the case of a boxer from USA Boxing's resident boxing program at the U.S. Olympic Education Center program, the boxer's original LBC shall have the option to represent the region. The regional coordinators will be notified of all boxers from their region and must advise the tournament administrator prior to the beginning of the draw which boxer will represent the region in attaining team points.

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