Goodwill Games Hit by a Ban : Pentagon Bars 13, Most of Them Boxers, From Competing

The U. S. Defense Dept. dealt the Goodwill Games a severe blow Thursday by announcing its decision to bar 12 members of the U.S. boxing team and one other military athlete from participating in the Games, which begin Saturday at Moscow.

A press release, issued by a Defense Dept. spokesman, Cmdr. Bob Prucha, said: “Defense Dept. regulations prohibit military or civilian employees from participating in any activities determined to be political in nature or intended to benefit selectively, or profit any agency or commercial concern.”

In Washington, a Pentagon official, who asked not to be identified, told the Associated Press that Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger made the decision Wednesday to bar 11 active-duty servicemen and one Defense Dept. civilian employee from making the trip. Also denied permission was Capt. Mike Burley, an Army competitor in modern pentathlon.

“The secretary believed he couldn’t approve participation in the games because of serious questions and uncertainties that he had,” the official said.

“Among those concerns were the manner in which the event was organized, who was going to participate, events surrounding the games and the way they would be presented. There was also a concern that Dept. of Defense personnel as participants might be subject to exploitation for political purposes.”

There was no reason given for the lateness of the decision.

Reaction from the Goodwill Games sponsors was swift.

“We’re certain that it’s confusion and misunderstanding,” said Robert Wussler, executive vice president of WTBS-TV, whose owner, Ted Turner, is co-sponsoring the games with the Soviet Union. “We have contacted all appropriate officials and hope to have everything back on track in the next 24 to 36 hours.”

The boxing contingent was scheduled to leave for Moscow tonight. Leslie King, a spokeswoman for U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation, said that the remainder of the U.S. Boxing team would make the trip and that the missing boxers, nearly one-third of the team, would not be replaced. Boxing competition is scheduled to begin July 11.

In Atlanta, Eric McLamb, the public relations manager for Turner Broadcasting, said in a press release:

“Turner Broadcasting System is seeking clarification from the Secretary of Defense as to his department’s decision not to allow members of the U.S. Boxing team to participate in the Goodwill Games. There is a long tradition of U.S.-Soviet boxing competition which has occurred on an annual basis since the 1960s, and this tradition is threatened by the Defense Dept.’s announcement today.

“WTBS is receiving support from many quarters, including the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, the U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation and the U.S. Olympic Committee in seeking to have this decision reversed.”

Col. Marvin Braman, a Pentagon spokesman, also told the Associated Press that Defense Dept. regulations governing international sporting events are quite specific, authorizing military personnel to participate in only the Olympics and Pan Am Games. All other contests require special review and approval, Braman said.

According to King of the USA/ABF, “The (boxing) federation has never had any problems before (in getting approval for servicemen) and we’ve been in competition with the USSR since 1969.”

Col. Don Hull, president of the USA/ABF, told The Times that he was surprised by the action, calling it “completely ridiculous.

“There is absolutely no validity to any statement they could have released,” he said. “There is no difference between the Goodwill Games and any other sporting event (referring to the Olympics or Pan American Games).”

Turner has said that it is his hope that the games would promote friendship and understanding between the United States and Soviet Union.

The countries did not compete against each other in the last two Summer Olympics; the United States boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980, and the Soviets boycotted the L.A. Olympics in 1984. The last multisport meeting between the two superpowers was at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Hull said he believes that the action by the Pentagon will further impair the ability of the two nations to get along.

“Here we are trying to demonstrate that we can get along with Russia and my experience has been that this was one with complete cooperation between the two countries,” he said. “It’s not a Russian affair, it’s a cooperative affair.”

Asked if the Soviets would react in kind at future sporting events held in the United States, Hull said: “I don’t think there is any doubt. It just results in them boycotting what we want to do. I think boycotting breeds boycotting.” The 12 men from the boxing contingent who were denied permission were Pfc. Brian Lonon, 106 pounds, stationed at Ft. Hood, Tex.; Pfc. Kennedy McKinney, 112 pounds, Ft. Hood; Pfc. Vincent Phillips, 132, Ft. Riley, Texas; Pfc. Derrick Wilson, 147, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Pfc. Anthony Hembrick, 165, Ft. Bragg; Pfc. Donald Stephens, 165, Ft. Hood; Pfc. Wesley Watson, super-heavyweight (201 plus), Ft. Bragg; Runnel Dall, 125, Ft. Bragg; Marine Pfc. Arthur Martinez, 147 Camp Lejune, N.C.; Coach Sgt. Henry Johnson, Ft. Bragg; Manager George Schaefer, a civilian Navy employee, and Army Dr. Charles Pitlock.