Romanian boxers allegedly shoplifted

CHICAGO, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Three Romanian boxers have been banned from future international events after authorities said they were caught shoplifting from a Chicago store.

Boxing officials said the three fighters and their team manager -- who were in Chicago for the AIBA World Boxing Championships -- were sent back to Romania after the boxers were caught shoplifting at Nordstrom Rack on Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

Nordstrom's spokesman Michael Boyd said the store declined to press charges after the men admitted to theft and paid for the items they attempted to shoplift. Boyd said the value of the items would have qualified the theft as a misdemeanor.

Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond said suspected shoplifters are often let go if the store declines to file a complaint.

"The athletes were detained by Nordstrom's security, a call was made to police, we arrived, and I guess based on the explanation from the complainant, Nordstrom's security, they were released," Bond said.

International Boxing Association officials said all four men were banned for life from competing in AIBA events because they violated the organization's code of ethics.