International Boxing Federation ends ‘official’ relationship with ‘suspended’ Indian board

The International Boxing Federation (AIBA) has reportedly terminated any official relationship with its current suspended member, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF), for damaging the image, reputation and interest of the sport in the country.

AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu said in a statement that although the board had always regarded India as one of the most important members of its family, it has become impossible for them 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’.

According to the official AIBA website, AIBA has not recognized any official activities and did not support the officers from IABF since the December 2012 suspension, adding that after receiving disturbing reports on the way the sport of boxing was managed in India, it has now become impossible for them to continue any association with India.

Wu further said 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 the sport to submit applications for the establishment of a new National Federation.

The AIBA Executive Committee will make a final decision and rehabilitate a National Federation 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 the sport and not about their personal interests’.

Boxers and coaches will remain protected and authorized to compete at any competition at all levels under the AIBA flag. AIBA also hopes that the IOA will give its full cooperation until AIBA approves a new National Federation for the sake of the sport of boxing in India.