After ministry ban, IOA appoints adhoc committee to run Indian boxing

The Indian Olympic Association, with approval from the Amateur International Boxing Association, has formed an adhoc committee to run India boxing for now. Livid with the suspended Indian Amateur Boxing Federation's refusal to comply with its directives, the sports ministry on Tuesday had derecognized the national body.

The six-member committee will be headed by senior IOA official Tarlochan Singh. National coach GS Sandhu is also a part of the committee.

The Indian federation (IABF) was provisionally suspended by the ministry in December 2012. The ministry had asked the IABF to hold fresh elections and make its constitution compliant with the National Sports Code.

"IABF was directed to annul their elections held on 23.9.2013 and communicate its decision of holding fresh elections by following the provisions of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 under the supervision of an independent Returning Officer.

"The International Federation for the sport of boxing, i.e., AIBA has also from time to time advised the IABF to hold their elections after suitably amending the Constitution of IABF. However, neither the directions of the ministry not those of the AIBA have so far been complied with by IABF and fresh elections have not been held," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The good news is that funding for boxers has not been stopped and they will continue to train at government facilities.