Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist David Nyika is saddened but not surprised that a bout manipulation system existed in boxing at the 2016 Rio Games.
Photo: Photosport / John Cowpland
An independent investigation, commissioned by amateur boxing's governing body AIBA, and headed by Canada's Richard McLaren, suggested 14 bouts had been manipulated, including the super heavyweight final.
Qualifying tournaments were also affected.
Nyika failed to seal a place in Rio after being beaten by Uzbekistan's Rustam Tulaganov in a qualifying tournament, despite the New Zealander landing 20 more punches than his opponent.
Tulaganov went on to win bronze in Rio.
Nyika said the findings are disappointing but not unexpected.
"For a lot of boxers a lot of our worst worries fears came true, or were true.
"I feel like I may have been on the end of one or two wrong decisions. Then again, that could be biased.
"It's really easy to throw your hands up and say, 'the world's done this to me'. But, at the end of the day it's competition.
"For me personally, I feel like I've grown because of it. But, for those athletes who were cut short of fulfilling their dreams, I feel really bad for them."
AIBA was not involved in the Tokyo Olympics, with its status as a governing body suspended by the International Olympic Committee in 2019.
Nyika believed the boxing in Japan earlier this year was judged fairly and correctly, but said AIBA must act quickly or the recent corruption will leave an indelible stain on the sport.
"The IOC have done everything they needed to in order to clean up the Tokyo Olympics. I didn't see a single wrong decision at the Olympics.
"Now it's up to AIBA to clean up the sport but they've got a big job ahead of them."
Nyika said it's incredibly disappointing the organisation that was supposed to protect amateur boxers from corruption was unfairly influencing fights.
NZ heavyweight boxer David Nyika Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He said there have been concerns about AIBA for many years.
"It was in the back of [everyone's] mind. We knew there were some uncontrollables out there. I guess if you've got money in your pocket it's not uncontrollable.
"Totally disappointing. As athletes we literally put our bodies and lives on the line For that to come in the way of some people's dreams, it's pretty heartbreaking."
The revelations of corruption could put boxing's place in the 2024 Paris Games further in doubt.
It was already under threat, with the International Olympic Committee deeply concerned with the governance of the AIBA.
Nyika said the investigations findings will hurt boxing's chances of remaining an Olympic sport.
"I really hope AIBA get it together for this sport because it's one of the most historic sports at the Olympics. The world deserves boxing and to see the athletes that have worked so hard, for years, to achieve their goal.
"To have its inclusion on a knife edge going into Paris is really sad."
Nyika is now a professional and hopes to fight before the end of the year.