AIBA Loses Recognition, Calls for Fresh Elections

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is now officially out of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped the amateur boxing body of its Olympic recognition on June 26.

As a result, AIBA will be out of any revenue earned from the Tokyo games and AIBA’s 2019 World Championships will no longer be recognized as Olympic qualification tournaments.

In response to the move by the IOC, AIBA executive committee member Umar Kremlev announced plans the next day to build the organization’s image back up with the election of a new AIBA president scheduled for Nov. 15.

An investigation into AIBA done following the 2016 Olympics in Rio found serious issues involving the organization’s leadership and finances, as well as accusations of fight fixing. As many as 36 officials and referees were suspended for comprising the integrity of several bouts in Rio.

The IOC was also motivated to look into the sanctioning body as a result of the election of Gafur Rakhimov as president. The United States has accused Rakhimov of being connected to organized crime in eastern Europe.

At the same June 27 emergency AIBA meeting, AIBA canceled a bylaw that would have seen Rakhimov return to office via the ending of his self-suspension. It also created a panel in the hopes of having dialogue and working with the IOC to have Olympic status resorted after 2020.

Despite debts of $17 million, AIBA did not declare bankruptcy at the meeting.

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov has added the planned men’s and women’s World Championships tournaments will remain in place as scheduled.

Original Story: Boxing Scene