April 30, 2000
Oregon Commission Officers Admit Violations
During a public Commission meeting, the Chairman and the Executive
Director of the Oregon State Police Boxing & Wrestling Commission each
admitted that the Commission had broken rules and allowed rules and laws
to be violated. These statements were made on Friday, April 28, while an
investigation of alleged violations was still being conducted by the
Oregon State Police.
Following recent reports of major rule violations on a February club show
in Portland, a formal complaint was filed, listing 26 specific instances
in which Executive Director Jim Cassidy had allowed or committed
violations of state and federal laws during six boxing shows in the past
year. The complaint by licensed pro boxing judge Denis Ryan was filed with
the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Superintendant of State
Police, Ron Ruecker, who is the ultimate authority over Commission
operations. In response, Governor John Kitzhaber's office ordered an
investigation which is being conducted by the Oregon State Police Office
of Professional Standards.
During a regular commission meeting at the agency offices in Salem, the
Commission Chair, Dr. Louis Rios, M.D. at first dismissed the allegations
as a personal matter for the boxing judge who filed the complaint. Later
in the meeting, however, Rios said, "We may have broken some rules but we
don't blatantly break the rules." He continued, "It's true we have broken
rules. We're learning. Every time we correct one thing we fall down in
another area."
During his presentation to the Commission, Executive Director Jim Cassidy
said he had had some problems, such as in the February bout "where I was
not able to check paperwork and I failed to license some individuals, but
I can assure you it won't happen again." Cassidy went on to explain that
in the past he has extended time lines to allow promoters to get shows
together but that "because of what's happened I will be sticking strictly
to the time lines," for future events.
As CBZ has reported (March 28 CBZ) during the February 19 club show at the
Roseland Theater in Portland, OR, boxer Awel Abdulai tested positive for
marijuana but was allowed to fight when a falsified substitute negative
drug report was delivered to Executive Director Cassidy. In addition, the
promoter and the matchmaker for the event, and a participating cornerman
were not licensed by Cassidy as required by Oregon law. The formal
complaint filed by boxing judge Denis Ryan traced numerous violations in
six club shows in the state over the previous ten months or so since the
new Executive Director, Jim Cassidy was hired. The cards listed in the
complaint included the Roseland Theater event and five shows promoted by
Oregon Trails Promotions. The 26 alleged violations range from allowing
three boxers on the National Suspension List to fight on a single card, to
failure to enforce a fighters' contract.
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