In a lengthy post on his Facebook page which has gone viral, amateur boxing standout, Keevin Allicock, criticized the brass of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).
The statement was made following his “unexpected and scary” ordeal at the just concluded South American Games which he attended earlier this month in Paraguay.
In a well-written 13-paragraph statement dubbed ‘Our Sportsmen and Women Deserve Better’ which was posted on Wednesday night, Allicock eloquently articulated that local athletes are deserving of “basic yet fundamental privileges” which are not afforded.
He is advocating for change.
The 23-year-old who earned a bronze medal at the event but lost his semi-final bout on the scales due to being overweight, stated in retrospect that a physiotherapist and a medical practitioner should have been a part of the local contingent at the multi-sport event which concluded on October 15.
In the beginning of his statement, Allicock wrote “… after much thought, I have decided to write on an unexpected and scary event that took place as a risk to my health during my stay in Paraguay for the South American Games 2022. My reason for this bold step is to be an advocate for myself and other sports men and women who are deserving of basic yet fundamental privileges.
One such privilege includes having a physiotherapist and a medical examiner as part of the traveling delegation to international sport tournaments of which GUYANESE athletes attend and represent the Co-operative Republic of Guyana without hesitation.”
The statement continued “On 11th October, 2022, I was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis. The event, like I mentioned, was unanticipated and in the moment, I was at my weakest yet. Unfortunately, Guyana did not have a medical examiner. Unfortunately, Guyana did not have a single capable person with professional medical capabilities. Fortunately, assistance was rendered from medical officers of Team Panama until an ambulance arrived. This entire ordeal lasted 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived.
I am taking this opportunity to reiterate that just as much as we (athletes) undertake stringent preparations to give our all to medal at these games, similarly, measures have to be put in place to ensure our safety and well-being.
Apart from the need for sponsorship, which any association/federation will always advocate for – athletes deserve better!”
Allicock then went on to describe his unhealthy relationship with the GBA headed by Steve Ninvalle.
“I have been thrown into the lion’s den many times before by my own boxing association – something I am unafraid to mention. I have grown accustomed to it, but this should not be so. Rather, I should have a healthy relationship with the executive body of the association whose responsibility I fall under as an amateur athlete.
To date, the President of the Boxing Association and the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (K. Juman Yassin) have failed to reach out to ask of my well-being. I came home with a Bronze medal. If not a word of congratulations, at least ask of my health.
I have suffered from injuries in the past. This time was different and it definitely served as a wakeup call; my body reacted in a way that made me helpless. I wish this on none of my colleague athletes and it is why I am making this statement to let all the relevant persons know better must be done.
Anchored on shared responsibility, each Associations/Federations and the Guyana Olympic Association ought to do better for athletes. For every tournament, a physiotherapist and a medical examiner ought to be present.”
In an immediate reaction, the GBA released the following statement:
“The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) regrettably, is forced to respond to comments made by local boxer Keevin Allicock on his personal page on the social media platform – Facebook, yesterday.
Mr. Allicock via a public proclamation on his Facebook page, criticized primarily the GBA and partially, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for the lack of a physiotherapist and medical personnel at the 2022 South American Games.
‘My reason for this bold step is to be an advocate for myself and other sportsmen and women who are deserving of basic yet fundamental privileges. One such privilege includes having a physiotherapist and a medical examiner as part of the traveling delegation to international sports tournaments of which Guyana athletes attend and represent the Co-operative Republic of Guyana without hesitation.’
Allicock disclosed that he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis on October 11th, and received treatment from the medical officers of the Panama delegation until an ambulance arrived, following an ordeal that lasted 30 minutes.
Mr. Allicock lost his semi-final match at the championship, after failing to make weight; a reality which he essentially blames on the lack of physiotherapist, medical personnel, and the absence of a scale to confirm his weight, which is in his estimation, is indicative of the lack of structures to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes.
He also alluded to a strained relationship with the GBA executive, whilst making spurious claims of being ‘thrown into the lion’s den many times before by my own boxing association – something I am unafraid to mention.’
It is lamentable that Allicock opted to utilize the public space rather than the internal mechanisms, and channels that are certainly afforded to him to ventilate any issue linked with the association.
In light of these comments, the GBA wishes to inform that:
1: Cuban coach Franciso Roldan, who was a vital cog in the preparation of the pugilists prior to their departure, has documented that Allicock only attended 16 of the maximum 43 training sessions prior to his international sojourn. This equates to an attendance rate of 37%, which certainly isn’t ideal ahead of such an important national assignment, and possibly warrants non-selection.
For comparative purposes, but more importantly, for scrutiny and transparency, the respective examination of teammates Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis’s participation in the same practice sessions must also be juxtaposed.
In comparison, Amsterdam attended 35 of the 43 sessions at a rate of 81.3% while continuing in the same mold, Lewis recorded an attendance rate of 58.1% after attending 25 of the 43 sessions.
2: Mr. Allicock has had a history of such indiscipline which in February of this year forced the GBA executive to remove him from Guyana’s team preparing for the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental Championships.
This decision was made by the GBA Coaches Committee and resulted from his lack of commitment to training. Unfortunately, the aforesaid wasn’t an anomaly. In 2019, he was also suspended by the association from national duties following a similar disregard for training.
Mr. Allicock was scheduled to represent Guyana at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, but was delinquent in his attendance to training between the May 1-23 preparatory phase. The record indicated that he had only attended 12 of the 30 scheduled sessions under the tutelage of Roldan. This translates to a meagre 40%. The ‘everyone’s fault but mine’ excuse is worn out and no longer acceptable.
3: In the last decade Mr. Allicock has been provided more resources than any other local boxer and was availed access to every major international tournament in the world. This underlines the fact that the GBA has/is leaving no stone unturned relating to his development in the sport.
4: While the GBA concedes that the lack of a medical practitioner and physiotherapist at the championship was unfortunate, this aberration was a reality lived and incurred by each local association that was represented and not simply a blemish or culpability of the boxing fraternity.
5: Mr. Allicock’s attitude towards training, subsequent weight issue and dehydration in Paraguay may be correlated.
Emotions are a useful servant but a terrible master. The GBA is certainly opposed to going back and forth on this issue which has many movable parts, and that gives way, and caters to mass ignorance.
The GBA is in the process of launching a formal internal investigation into the intricacies and details surrounding the entire episode to find a solution, which is not insulated from facts. We also remain committed to the development of the sport, and working with all stakeholders to forge a sustainable pathway for the advancement of the discipline.”
