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Now India's Boxing Federation Suspended by AIBA as Fallout Continues from IOA Suspension |
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Boxing - 07 Dec 2012 - The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation has been suspended by AIBA, the sport’s world governing body, making it the latest in a long line of national federations to be suspended by AIBA for governance irregularities.
The IABF was suspended for “possible manipulation” of its election results, although it has protested that the process was “transparent.”
The suspension of the IABF is directly linked to the suspension earlier this week of the Indian Olympic Association by the International Olympic Committee, in a long-running wrangle over the IOA’s elections and a controversial new Sports Code which, the IOC maintains, are in breach of the Olympic Charter.
Abhay Singh Chautala, who was elected president of the IOA in defiance of the IOC, which had declared that the results of any elections would be “null and void,” is the former president of the IABF, who was elected unopposed to the new post of IABF chairman to facilitate his IOA candidacy.
The latest development means that he now leads two high-profile organisations that have both been suspended by their respective international governing bodies for election irregularities.
AIBA said in a statement: “Further to the International Olympic Committee's suspension imposed on the Indian Olympic Association, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee Bureau has decided today December 6 to provisionally suspend the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF).
“This provisional suspension is also due to the fact that AIBA had learned about possible manipulation of the recent IABF's election.
“AIBA will now investigate this election and especially a potential political link between IOA President, as former Chairman of the IABF, and the IABF election.”
Abhishek Matoria, Chautala’s brother-in-law, who was elected as the new IABF president, told the Times of India: “AIBA had specific queries about the election process and we had explained to them that there was no manipulation. Those who got elected were unanimous choices and just because there was unanimity, the AIBA cannot allege manipulation.
“This is a provisional suspension and I am sure it would be lifted soon after we explain our stand to AIBA. If need be, I will personally go and speak to AIBA officials in Lausanne.
“Our boxers are not threatened by any repercussions for the time being because the next major AIBA event is quite far and the matter will be resolved by then.”
AIBA’s Junior World Championships are scheduled to take place in Kiev in August next year.
India’s sports ministry also announced today that it has suspended the IABF, meaning that it will no longer receive funding.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the IOA, including Chautala, was today meeting PK Deb, India’s sports secretary, to discuss its suspension “and decide the plan of action,” according to an IOA statement.
Still apparently defiant, the statement continued: “The newly elected executive council committee is committed to the welfare and development of the sport persons and we assure whatever possible will be done to resolve the issue created by IOC.
“The athletes’ interest will be protected at any cost on priority basis. We will also ensure that Indian sportspersons will and shall compete with the pride of the national flag and nothing less.”
It had been suggested that, as in previous cases of national Olympic committee suspension, Indian athletes might continue to compete in Olympic events under the Olympic flag, instead of that of their own country, while the IOA is suspended.
Sportcal |
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