Beaten judo champ says she was bitten

ATHENS: Greek judo champion Ioulietta Boukouvala claimed she was bitten by her Cuban opponent after losing in the first round yesterday. The 29-year-old was quoted as saying Yurileidys Lupetey Cobas, who went on to win the contest, bit her on the hand and that she should have been penalised. “Responsible for judging are the officials and the technical team of the Games,” said the Greek. “They must decide if she should’ve  been penalised or disqualified because she bit me.” One of Greece’s leading hopes for London glory, the European silver medallist and gold medal winner in the World Grand Prix event in Amsterdam this year, Boukouvala showed reporters the hand she said was bitten by Cobas.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2012.