Sports court verdict puts Olympic boxing in further doubt
- Early rise for those attending Pope’s mass near Quebec City during Canadian visit - July 17, 2022
- B.C. scientists who worked on James Webb telescope thrilled by first images and project’s potential - July 17, 2022
- Forest fires rage across Europe as heatwave sends temperatures soaring | Wildfires - July 17, 2022
After Tuesday’s ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Boxing Association may have difficulty holding its presidential election.
The court saidIt upheld Boris van der Vorst’s appeal that he shouldn’t have been struck from the paper ballot last month due to a minor violation of campaigning rules.
However, it didn’t order the IBA not to re-stage its vote that elected Umar Kremlev as president by acclamation on Mai 14.
Van der Vorst had been Kremlev’s opponent until an election panel declared him ineligible just one day before the scheduled date.
Van der Vorst, along with other candidates, was expelled by the election oversight board for “prohibited cooperation” and campaigning.
A CAS judge ruled Van der Vorst had broken a rule about premature campaigning. Kremlev was also guilty.
The court stated that the minor rule violation “would have deserved light sanctions such as a warning, or even no sanction but not an exclusion of the election.” saidIn a statement
Van der Vorst stated, “We look forward cooperating with IBA in order to reinstate the electoral process as soon as we can.” saidIn a joint statement with three allies, whose appeals were also accepted by CAS.
The uncertainty surrounding the election has fueled skepticism at International Olympic Committee regarding IBA’s push to be reinstated as an organizer of boxing ahead 2024 Paris Summer Games.
The IOC has long condemned the boxing body for its governance and finances as well as the integrity of bouts at championships. C.K. managed Olympic boxing six years ago. Wu, then a long-standing IOC member.
Gafur Rakhimov succeeded Wu, despite IOC warnings. Rakhimov was on a U.S. Treasury Department list of sanctions for alleged links with international heroin trafficking. This he denied.
Kremlev was reelected in 2020. He won support from IBA to clear millions of dollars worth of debts. However, the IOC raised further concerns about financial dependence on Gazprom, Russia’s state energy company.
SourceCBC Sports
