Andorran Tribunal Rejects Boxer's Appeal, Closes Probe into Brain Injury

The Andorran Constitutional Tribunal has rejected an amparo appeal from boxer Fabio Joel Rodrigues Da Cunha and his partner, Desirée Ruiz Pelaez, confirming the archiving of the criminal probe into his severe brain injury in October 2023 and ruling that no fundamental rights were breached.

Rodrigues, then a professional boxer, took a knockout during a September 2023 tournament that served as preparation for the WBA Future of Andorra Boxing event scheduled for early November. Eager to turn professional, he began training ahead of recommended rest periods at a private gym. There, he suffered another head injury, lapsed into a coma, and required transfer to a Catalan hospital for care, linked to inadequate recovery from the initial knockout and impacts during the session.

The "Cas Fabio" investigation began with a police complaint from Rodrigues and Ruiz alleging offences against physical and moral integrity, later focusing on suspected coercion over his training. Tensions rose in Andorra's small boxing circles, with mobile messages exchanged amid the fallout. An early sports penalty against the trainer—who doubled as national team selector—and gym owner was subsequently lifted.

Police and judicial probes continued into 2024, but in June, the Batllia court closed the case for lack of evidence supporting coercion. As civil parties entitled to pursue damages but not full prosecutorial roles, Rodrigues and Ruiz could not challenge the archiving. The Corts Tribunal upheld this, and the Constitutional Tribunal has now endorsed the decisions, stressing their choice not to file a formal criminal complaint (querella) upon notification of the closure, which restricted their appeal rights.

No sports penalties or criminal reprimands remain in place, fully ending the penal track unless new actions emerge. Civil claims for damages linked to the events stay available. Authorities have offered no further updates.