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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Kellie Harrington joins IABA in calling for Bernard Dunne resignation U-turn

Kellie Harrington claims Bernard Dunne was stymied in his role as high performance director as the IABA expressed the hope that he will do a U-turn on his decision to resign.

The IABA has confirmed that former world champ Dunne has stepped down from his post having been on extended leave since the Tokyo Olympics.

Dunne led the delegation that came home with two medals from the Games for Harrington and Aidan Walsh.

But he resigned in frustration this week after a hearing into a pre-Tokyo controversy that was expected to take place this week was postponed.

The IABA said in a statement that it "deeply regrets" Dunne's decision to quit the role he took on in 2017, adding that he had "reinvigorated" the high performance unit in the wake of a disastrous performance at the Rio Games.

"The IABA would also like to note that its acceptance of his resignation is provisional as it has asked Bernard to reconsider his decision," added the statement.

Harrington has also expressed a desire to see her fellow Dubliner return to the fold.

The Tokyo gold medallist tweeted: "I second that, and would like to see him change his mind, but its hard to when your not allowed to do your job the way it shud (sic) be done..He was a great director of the (high performance unit)."

The IABA also praised Dunne for the two Olympic medals and 27 medals at World and European level won on his watch.

In February 2021, it emerged that a document was distributed to the IABA board critical of Dunne's stewardship of the high-performance unit.

The anonymous document criticised the former world champion and recommended he leave his role and the IABA confirmed that Dunne had made a complaint against two volunteers last October.

The IABA statement added that the body "has always regarded this document as malicious and an appalling attack on a member of staff and on the High-Performance Unit.

"The anonymous document entered the public domain in February 2021.

"The person or persons who authored it have elected not to claim responsibility for it at the time of publication or at any stage since.

"An initial hearing of Bernard’s complaint, made in October 2021, took place at the end of April, and was adjourned with the agreement of all parties. The process is ongoing.

"It’s important to note that there are 28,000 people in the Irish Boxing family, and, like all families, there can be divergent views.

"A small cohort of the Irish Boxing family, however, has expressed robust dissatisfaction with the High-Performance Unit since its inception in 2003.

"They desire to see the selection of Team Ireland boxers for international competition and all connected matters, undertaken by people other than professionals/High Performance staff.

"This is not a realistic option in modern high-performance sport. This is not a risk that should be taken with Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.

"Half of Ireland’s boxing Olympic medals have been won since the inception of the HPU and it is imperative that this winning structure is supported and protected."

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