CHENNAI: The international boxing association (AIBA) is in deep trouble.
There are allegations of mismanagement and lack of governance against the current regime led by its President CK Wu. There was an unprecedented lockdown of the AIBA headquarters in Lausanne on Wednesday forcing employees to take leave until Sunday. There had been a no-confidence motion initiated against the president that was passed with an overwhelming majority of 13-2 in the 16-member executive committee meeting.
Contrary to AIBA's claim that the Hamburg World Championships next month would be affected, the body's Welsh executive committee member Terry Smith, in an exclusive interview with The New Indian Express, revealed that would not be the case. "The World Championships in Hamburg this year, 2019 in Russia and 2021 in India will go ahead as planned as will all other planned events and with a great deal more support from the Continental Confederations of the Host Cities," Smith, one of Wu's loudest critics, said.
He added that the decision to form an interim management committee had been taken and will be installed soon to manage the administration. Contrary to AIBA claims on Wednesday (released to a news agency), Smith claimed that the interim management committee was within their statutes. He also says the Executive board is well within its rights to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to remove the president with a no-confidence motion.
Excerpts:
Will the executive board not allow CK Wu to continue as president until the extraordinary congress is called?
Under AIBA's Statutes, the Executive Committee does not have the authority to remove the President. Only the Congress can do this with a vote of 'no confidence'. However, the Executive Committee does have the authority to call an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) to deal with this matter and this decision has been taken. In the meantime, the Executive Committee has also decided to install an "Interim Management Committee" to manage the administration and business of AIBA until the Congress makes their decision at the EGM
What are charges you have against him?
Mismanaging the affairs of and complete lack of governance in AIBA
As claimed by CK Wu, do you believe he enjoys the support of the Federation?
There were 16 Members of the Executive Committee present at Moscow - CK Wu, 5 vice-presidents and 10 executive members. The voting for the propositions mentioned above was as follows: 13 in favour (which includes all of the 5 Vice-Presidents) and 2 Abstentions. Does this indicate that he has the support of the Federation?
Do you have anyone in mind as the new president?
Should the Congress vote in favour of the motion, then under our statutes the most senior vice-president will stand in as president until Congress can be recalled to elect a new President and that must take place within one year. We have no candidate in mind as the new president. This position is open to anyone qualified under the statutes.