Boxing will remain in Olympics: AIBA

LONDON: Boxing faces an uncertain Olympic future but the world body chief Gafur Rakhimov Wednesday said the sport will remain in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games roster having made improvement on several aspects as sought by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The sport risks ejection from the Olympics after controversial Uzbek businessman Rakhimov was elected AIBA president this month. Whether boxing will be in the 2020 Olympics will be decided at an executive commission meeting of the IOC in Tokyo next month.

Rakhimov’s election has caused consternation at the Olympic movement with the 67-year-old linked to organised crime by the US Treasury Department. He has, however, vehemently denied the allegations.

Addressing a press conference after declaring the 10th Women’s World Championships open, Rakhimov said he was confident of boxing’s future as an Olympic sport.

“There is nothing to worry. These (issues) has been happening for many years and we have been correcting them. It has nothing to do with one person and the person’s interest will not be above boxing. Boxing will always be in Olympics,” he said.

“We are doing a lot for the boxers. In the last 10 months at the helm of affairs at the AIBA, we have brought a lot of reforms and improvement. We will continue to give the best for our boxers.”

Asked about the report submitted by the AIBA to the IOC ahead of the Olympic umbrella body’s executive committee meeting in Tokyo next month, Rakhimov said, “The areas of concern were accumulated for many years. These include anti-doping, refereeing integrity, governance and financial aspects.

“This report also combined information from Youth Olympic Games for refereeing which was well welcomed by the IOC as well as anti-doping cases, WADA cases that AIBA is now 100% compliant. AIBA always looks forward to cooperation with the IOC in order to improve any area which we are lacking and which have been of concern by National Olympic Committees.” IANS

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