Security measures are in place to protect Armenian participants at the world championships in Azerbaijan, the International Boxing Association said Wednesday, despite a stone-throwing attack on one boxer.
Tensions are high between the two countries over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 ceasefire halted a separatist conflict.
On Saturday, a spectator threw a stone at Armenian boxer Andranik Hakobyan. But spokesman Sebastien Gillot said the spectators responsible were thrown out by security guards.
Gillot said that Azerbaijan is also protecting the Armenian delegation by providing separate housing with armed security.
Hakobyan, the only Armenian boxer to reach the quarterfinals, lost on points Wednesday to Bogdan Juratoni of Romania.
