A miffed International BoxingAssociation today said it was left with no choice but tosuspend the Indian boxers and coaches from world events giventhe "lack of progress" in resolving the electoral mess thatled to IABF's suspension late last year.
"Given the lack of progress made to resolve the situationin India, AIBA has been left with no choice but to extend itssuspension to all boxers and coaches until such time as thiscomplicated situation has been resolved," AIBA's PR andCommunication Director Sebastien Gillot told PTI in responseto an e-mail questionnaire.
The AIBA provisionally suspended the Indian AmateurBoxing Federation (IABF) in December last year citing theInternational Olympic Committee's suspension of the IndianOlympic Association and "possible manipulation in itselections".
The international body asked the IABF to hold are-election and amend its constitution to fulfil the criteriaof getting the suspension revoked. The world body had allowedthe boxers and coaches to compete in international events inthe meantime but that concession has now been taken back.
Gillot said the onus is now on the IABF to act fast andsave the athletes any hassle.
"AIBA strongly urges the IABF to do its utmost to resolvethe situation as soon as possible, in the best interests ofthe athletes. In the meantime, AIBA is unable to give anyfurther comment on this situation," he said.
The IABF claimed ignorance of this new missive from AIBA.
"They are not communicating with us anymore. We aretotally in a fix. If this new directive is true than Indianboxing has been dealt a massive blow," said a top IABFofficial.