CAS boost for barred rival to boxing chief Rakhimov

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 18, (AFP): Serik Konakbayev received a boost in his battle for the presidency of world boxing after the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Thursday it would rule by Oct 30 on AIBA’s decision to bar him from the election.

Konakbayev is the only rival to Gafur Rakhimov for the presidency of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), but the former Kazakh boxer failed to submit the required nomination forms from 20 federations by the Sept 23 deadline.

Konakbayev’s forms were received on Sept 24, the Kazakh arguing they were valid under Swiss law as the 23rd was a Sunday, not a working day.

“The parties have agreed to expedite the matter by shortening the time limits for the filing of their written submissions and the CAS panel in charge of the matter will hold a hearing before rendering a final decision by 30 October 2018,” CAS said.

CAS added that it had registered a second procedure relating to the AIBA presidential election.

“The Kazakhstan Boxing Federation has filed an urgent application for provisional measures seeking a stay of the AIBA Elections,” scheduled for November 3,” it said.

The election process has been mired in controversy, with Rakhimov even forced into denying US Treasury claims that he is linked to “transnational criminal organizations”.

There have also been fears expressed, notably by the 25 European boxing federations, that the sport could lose its place at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee has already frozen contacts with the AIBA over concerns with the election process.