Andorran Court Closes 'Fabio Case' Criminal Probe into Boxer's Coma Injuries

The Andorran Constitutional Court has definitively closed the criminal proceedings in the "Fabio case", rejecting an appeal for protection filed by boxer Fabio Rodrigues and his partner against the dismissal of the investigation into injuries that left him in a coma in October 2023.

The High Court ruled that no fundamental rights were violated, upholding decisions by lower courts. The Batllia had opened proceedings after Rodrigues filed a complaint alleging crimes against physical and moral integrity, following severe injuries sustained during a training session shortly after he suffered a knockout in a fight. However, it dismissed the case for lack of evidence of coercion. The defendants' appeal to the Tribunal de Corts was rejected because they had appeared only as civil parties, not as private prosecutors. The Constitutional Court confirmed this stance, noting that Rodrigues could have filed a criminal complaint upon notification of the dismissal. It also emphasised that civil proceedings remain open for potential compensation claims.

The incident traces back nearly two years to late September 2023, when Rodrigues was knocked out at the Torneig de l'Amistat tournament. Weeks later, he unexpectedly joined a controlled sparring session at a gym organised with federation referees, despite medical advice to rest for a full month after the concussion. During that session, he suffered a severe brain injury requiring intensive care.

Alfred Calero, a veteran coach in contact sports and founder of a kickboxing, Muay Thai and boxing club since 2007, broke his silence following the ruling. He denied being Rodrigues' coach or club member, stating the boxer had only visited occasionally for scheduled sparring and that he had merely accompanied him in three fights as an auxiliary federation selector. Calero accused federation president Bruno Modesto—a police officer—of trying to shift all blame onto him as a "firewall" when the situation escalated, including removing him from WhatsApp groups and threatening police action at an urgent meeting.

Calero recounted that both he and Modesto were in Rodrigues' corner at the tournament, but he disengaged from post-fight medical checks, leaving them to Modesto. He insisted responsibility for monitoring recovery lay with Rodrigues and his regular trainer, noting pressure from the promotion of Rodrigues' planned professional debut in Andorra just 40 days after the knockout—a bout arranged between Rodrigues and Modesto. Federation referees and officials present at the sparring session also failed to spot Rodrigues' condition, Calero added.

While acknowledging the personal toll—including sanctions from the Andorran Boxing Federation later annulled—Calero avoided direct blame for Rodrigues, saying medical advice against sparring had been ignored. He expressed hope for public apologies from Modesto but doubted they would come.