Issara and Jongjit, who got to the quarter-finals of the men's doubles at London 2012, became involved in a bizarre incident during the doubles final at the Richmond Olympic Oval last month, which saw both players - playing on opposite sides for the first time since they split up - end up on the ground exchanging blows.

Following an investigation by the BWF and the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT), Issara was found to be the main aggressor and was handed a two-year ban from the sport for breaching a number of sections of the BWF Players' Code of Conduct regarding inappropriate conduct, oral abuse, physical abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct, and conduct contrary to the integrity of the game.


The BAT had initially called for the 22-year-old to be banned for life, but Issara's admission that he was the instigator of the brawl resulted in the punishment being set at two years.

"It was a one-sided fight - Bodin attacked Maneepong," said BAT President Charoen Wattanasin.

"What he did is a shame, and it damages the country's reputation."

Bodin's club Granular had already suspended the player for the remainder of 2013 without pay, and their chairman Jane Piyatat said that while they accepted the decision, they would launch an appeal to try and get the punishment reduced.

"I accept the decision but the public will decide whether it was the right decision," he said.

During the match, the pair became involved in a verbal altercation resulting in each receiving a warning from the referee.

The altercation turned physical when Bodin lost his temper after being hit on the head with a racquet at the change of ends and he rugby-tackled Maneepong on a neighbouring court before the pair began exchanging punches and Bodin had to be dragged off his former partner.

As a result of his three-month ban, Jongjit, also 22, cannot compete at the Badminton World Championships in China which are currently underway, at which he and new partner Nipitphon Puangpuapech were seeded 14th.


Following the review of footage and written statements from both players, the BWF found Jongjit guilty of inappropriate conduct, oral abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct, and he admitted after the disciplinary hearing that he was partly to blame as he raised his middle finger to Bodin during the match.

Both players have 21 days to appeal t against the punishments which are effective from the date of the incident on July 21.

Prior to the hearing, Issara and Jongjit offered each other an uneasy handshake in an attempt to clear the air.

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