Another Olympic Boxer Facing Sexual Assault Charges
A second boxer is arrested on sexual assault charges in the middle of the 2016 Summer Olympics, casting a huge shadow in the sport of boxing.
Jonas Junius, a light welterweight, of Namibia was jailed after a judicial order requested on August 7 that he be jailed after he allegedly attempted to grab and kiss the cleaning lady in the Olympic Village, according to Brazilian online publication Globo.com. Junius was the flag-bearer for Namibia during the Opening Ceremonies that took place on August 5.
“We can confirm that an athlete has been detained by local police under the charge of sexual assault,” Mario Andrada, Rio 2016 Communications Director, said. “Brazil law needs to be respected.”
Junius is currently in a maximum-security prison in Rio de Janeiro, according to Brazilian police official Rodrigo Moreira. The 22-year-old is scheduled to fight in the round of 32 against Frenchman Hassan Amzile on August 11, Day 6 of the Games.
His arrest comes after another boxer, Moroccan Hassan Saada, was arrested on suspicion of raping two women in a room in the Olympic Village on August 5.
There is still no decision on whether or not Junius will be eligible to compete in the Olympics. Saada is fulfilling a 15-day jail sentence and will not compete in these Olympics Games.
