IOC taking issue with AIBA’s new chief Rakhimov

BOXING: An Uzbek businessman who has been accused of ties to organized crime has been elected president of the amateur boxing federation, putting the sport on a collision course with the International Olympic Committee. The IOC criticised Gafur Rakhimov’s bid to become head of AIBA, and it has yet to confirm boxing is on the program for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The IOC could host an Olympic boxing tournament without AIBA, cutting off the financially-troubled federation from a key funding source. Rakhimov (pictured) is on a US sanctions list for alleged links to international heroin trafficking. The sanctions bar US citizens and companies from doing business with him. He has denied wrongdoing. The IOC said in a statement ‘there are issues of grave concern with AIBA regarding judging, finance, and the anti-doping programme, and with governance,’ including Rakhimov’s election as president. The IOC called for ‘a clear roadmap for longterm sustainable reform of the federation.’

TENNIS: Novak Djokovic ruined Roger Federer’s ambitions of a 100th career title with a 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 win in an epic Paris Masters semi-final that stretched his remarkable unbeaten run to 22 matches. The Serb won in a tiebreak decider after three hours and faces Karen Khachanov, who crushed Dominic Thiem 64, 6-1, in today’s final.

SNOOKER: Neil Robertson will play Mark Allen in the International Championship final in China following a 9-7 victory over Jack Lisowski. Allen beat Matthew Stevens 9-6.