Lausanne/New
Delhi, Dec 7 : In a massive jolt to boxing in India, the International Boxing
Association has suspended the IABF alleging "possible manipulation" in
its recent elections but the body has denied the charge, insisting that
the process was "transparent".
The development which has left the
Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) "stunned" comes within a few
days of the International Olympic Committee suspending the Indian
Olympic Association.
"Further to the International Olympic
Committee's suspension imposed on the Indian Olympic Association, the
International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee Bureau has
decided today December 6 to provisionally suspend the Indian Amateur
Boxing Federation (IABF)," the AIBA said in a statement.
"This
provisional suspension is also due to the fact that AIBA had learned
about possible manipulation of the recent IABF's election.
"AIBA
will now investigate this election and especially a potential political
link between IOA President, as former Chairman of the IABF, and the IABF
election," it added.
During the September elections, outgoing
President Abhay Singh Chautala, who was elected IOA President despite
IOC's suspension, was retained in the body as nominated Chairman of the
body.
The development now also puts a question mark over
Chautala's election as IOA President since he came into the fray as an
IABF representative. Interestingly, his brother-in-law and BJP MLA from
Rajasthan, Abhishek Matoria, was elected as the new IABF President.
Stunned by the suspension, Matoria said that the world body had been apprised of the election process in detail.
"AIBA
had specific queries about the election process and we had explained to
them that there was no manipulation. Those who got elected were
unanimous choices and just because there was unanimity, the AIBA cannot
allege manipulation," Matoria said.
"This is a provisional
suspension and I am sure it would be lifted soon after we explain our
stand to AIBA. If need be, I will personally go and speak to AIBA
officials in Lausanne," Matoria said.
"Our boxers are not
threatened by any repercussions for the time being because the next
major AIBA event is quite far and the matter will be resolved by then,"
he added.
The next AIBA event is the Junior World Championships
in August next year, followed by the senior World Championships in
October.
A senior IABF functionary told PTI that there might be a re-election.
"Let's wait and see. Maybe there would have to be a re-election in a proper manner with AIBA Observer being present," he said.
In
the September IABF elections, the body had been left in a fix after the
Sports Ministry barred it from making constitutional changes that could
have facilitated continuation of the incumbent set of office-bearers.
Meanwhile, the AIBA's decision came as a bolt from the blue for the boxers, many of whom are in the national camp in Patiala.
"It
is a sad day for Indian boxing and I can't understand how such a
development can take place. I don't understand why the matter was not
explained to AIBA," India's first Olympic medallist in the sport,
Vijender Singh, said.
The Beijing Olympics bronze-medallist was, however, hopeful that the issue would be resolved soon.
"The
next AIBA event is quite far but hopefully we would not sit on it for
too long and get the suspension revoked as soon as possible," he said.
Nine
bands- 24 x 7, Pune; Ably, Mizoram; Gingerfeet ,Kolkata; Clueless
Attention, Nagaland; Dosser’s Urge, Shillong; Four Fields, Nagaland;
Adam’s Apple, Darjeeling, West Bengal; Titans ,Tura ,Meghalaya and Black
Rose, Nagaland will battle it out in the finals of Airtel Hornbill
National Rock Contest (HNRC), 2012 on Friday evening, which would start
at 5 p.m. at IG Stadium, Kohima. 
