Indian Boxing Federation terminated by AIBA for damaging the image of the sport

Indian boxer Jai Bhagwan (L) lands a punch against Pakistani opponent Sajid Raja

The International Boxing Association has terminated India over concerns about the current India Boxing Federation’s presiding officers, who are “damaging the image, reputation and interest” of the sport.

There is, however, a silver lining for Indian boxers and coaches – they will continue to compete in all international events until the conclusion of the issue, under the AIBA flag, and not their national tri-colour.

In a sternly worded statement, the AIBA confirmed their stand.

“It is with much regret that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee (EC) has decided to end any official relationship with its current suspended member, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) after an extensive evaluation and assessment of all issues surrounding the sport of boxing in India.”

AIBA President Ching Kuo Wu also said that it will not reconsider its decision until fresh elections are held, and the current officials are replaced by candidates that are vetted by the world body itself.

“As AIBA President and on behalf of the entire boxing family, I am expressing my deepest regret and sadness that we had to make this decision,” stated Dr Wu.

“AIBA has always regarded India as one of the most important members of its family, but it has become impossible for us to bear the hard feelings, the pain and suffering the boxers as well as the boxing family in India had to go through under the past and recent leadership which has also been damaging the image, reputation and interest of our sport in the country,” he added.

The IBF was provisionally suspended on December 6, 2012 because of alleged manipulations in its election process, and the AIBA has not recognised any activities of its Indian counterpart since.

IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, in a letter, requested the AIBA to recognise the present set of IBF office-bearers, which, sources say, was the last straw.

Although the AIBA had promised to review the situation after the Indian Olympic Association was reinstated, conflicting claims from various Indian officials proved to be a matter of irritation for the international regulatory body.

“Before and after the IOA election and lifting of suspension, AIBA received different claims from various groups of people on the way the sport of boxing was managed in India and it has therefore now become totally impossible for AIBA to make proper judgements in terms of handling the National Federation’s affairs in India,” the AIBA stated.

“It is believed that the only way to get the sport of boxing back on track in India would be for it to be left in the hands of trustful, clean and honest people who love boxing and to give the opportunity to any group of people with passion and love for our sport to submit applications for the establishment of a new National Federation. AIBA will however not tolerate any governmental or sports authority interference in this process,” AIBA said.

“Based on the reasons set out above and in accordance with article 18.2 of the AIBA Statutes, the IABF is now provisionally excluded from AIBA Membership as of today. The AIBA EC will make a final decision and rehabilitate a National Federation for boxing in India as soon as it deems that it has found the right group of people who will support the principles of AIBA in terms of ethics and fairness and who care primarily about the boxers and our beloved sport and not about their personal interests,” it added.

The AIBA also expressed hope that for the sake of the sport of boxing in India, the IOA would accept this decision and extend its full cooperation until the AIBA approved a new National Federation.

“AIBA will now wait for requests by any organisation or person to submit an application and once contacted, full guidelines for the new application process will be given,” the body stated.

The AIBA congress is scheduled to be held from November 8 to 15 in Jeju Islands, South Korea.

In a typical move, the IBF officials reacted with shock and anger to the AIBA’s decision. Secretary-general Rajesh Bhandari said the move was completely unfair.

“It is most unfortunate that they have taken a decision which is not only shocking, but also one-sided and arbitrary,” Bhandari told AFP.

“How can you keep a national federation out just on the basis of some unsubstantiated allegations? They have not given us any chance to explain ourselves. We are ready for any probe. If someone has committed a mistake, they must penalise him. But how can they blacklist the entire federation?”

IBF president Abhishek Matoria joined the chorus of voices bemoaning the AIBA’s move, saying, “We think it is unfair, they have acted unilaterally based after hearing just one side of the story.”