NEW DELHI // The International Boxing Association (AIBA) says the Indian Boxing Federation’s suspension will continue until honest officials are found to lead it.
The world amateur boxing body’s president Ching-Kuo Wu said in a statement that he had the “deepest regret and sadness” at the continued ban since India was an “important member.”
The Indian body has been suspended since December 2012 for not following proper procedures during polls in which it elevated previous president Abhay Singh Chautala to chairman of the body.
Chautala’s election as president of the Indian Olympic Association that same week had led to its suspension by the International Olympic Committee and the IOA was reinstated only last month after a new set off officials were elected.
India’s boxing federation reacted furiously after being effectively expelled by the sport’s world governing body, calling the decision “shocking” and “arbitrary”.
Rajesh Bhandari, secretary-general of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation, 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?”
As a result of the suspension, India’s boxers will not be allowed to compete in international events under the national flag in upcoming events such as the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.
“It’s really sad that India is having to face such embarrassments repeatedly. It is time our officials looked within and cleaned up their act,” a former official of the IABF told AFP Tuesday.
“We cannot live in denial always. We must clean the game from top to bottom if we are to move with our heads high,” he said, requesting anonymity.
