The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) officials, who met the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) president Ching-Kuo Wu at Armenia about its suspension, have been told to amend its constitution and hold fresh elections.
The IABF officials, however, are yet to receive anything in writing from AIBA over the issue. The AIBA, in a letter dated December 6, provisionally suspended the IABF over possible manipulation of its elections. The Indian boxing officials shot off a letter to AIBA on Friday night asking the world body to be specific in pointing out the lapses.
The India officials, led by senior vice-president P K Muralidharan Raja, have been holding talks with the AIBA officials ever since the news broke out. The officials are in Armenia along with the Indian boxers, who are participating in the Youth World Championship.
“The talks are in process. We spoke to Raja and he briefed us about the meeting. But we have asked him to request the AIBA officials to get their demands in writing.
Our constitution is in line with the AIBA constitution, so we need to know where AIBA finds us lacking and can also inform the government,” IABF president Abhishek Matoria told Deccan Herald. “When the boxing federation says there was manipulation in our elections, they weren’t specific.”
Also, the IABF officials are meeting on Monday to discuss the ways to revoke the suspension. “We want this matter to be resolved as early as possible. Our boxers are preparing for Asian Games and Commonwealth Games and we do not want their preparations to be hampered,” said IABF secretary-general Rajesh Bhandari.
The IABF elections held on Sept 23 drew ire from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports that suspended the recognition of IABF with immediate effect on Friday. The government announcement came hours after the AIBA suspension.
The ministry said election of the IABF was in violation of the procedure laid down in the sports code including the flawed publication of electoral roll, members not given sufficient time to file nominations and the nominations of candidates taken from the floor of the House on a date which was after last date of nomination.