AIBA PRESIDENT SUSPENDED
Head of Olympic boxing governing body handed a provisional suspension, writes John Dennen
THE president of AIBA, the governing body for Olympic boxing, Dr. Ching Kuo Wu has been provisionally suspended from his position.
The Executive Committee of AIBA brought forward a motion of no confidence in the president due to financial mismanagement of the organisation. That motion will be voted on at an Extraordinary Congress, the date of which is to be confirmed. The Executive Committee also set up an Interim Management Committee but a court ruling in Switzerland left Dr. Wu in control ahead of the Extraordinary Congress. However last week AIBA’S Disciplinary Commission served the president with an immediate, provisional suspension from his duties after receiving a brief of complaint from 11 Executive Committee members.
In a statement the Disciplinary Committee said: “The DC received a Brief of Complaint on October 1 from eleven members of the AIBA Executive Committee alleging that AIBA President Wu has violated and continues to violate various provisions of AIBA’S Statutes and Codes. The Complaint requests provisional and immediate suspension of his rights as President of AIBA as he continuously exercises such rights to dismiss and appoint key individuals in AIBA in order to block any statutory right of the EC and of others.
“The Chairman of the Commission and the Commission panel assigned to this matter believe that the situation is urgent and requires immediate provisional measures be ordered.
“Mr Wu is able to participate in any pending matter before the Commission in which he is a named as party. This interim suspension will be considered at the conclusion of the Commission’s proceedings on the Complaint case.
“During the period of suspension, the office of the President of AIBA will be filled in accordance with AIBA Statutes and Bylaws.”
The power struggle erupted over concerns over loans from Hong Kong investment firm FCIT and from an Azerbaijan based company Benkons.
AIBA has also been under scrutiny since the last Olympic boxing tournament and a series of controversial decisions which saw a host of officials suspended.
Inside the Games report that Wu will appeal the ruling, arguing that only the Congress, not the Disciplinary Commission has the power to suspend him.
But Franco Falcinelli has been appointed Acting Interim President by the Executive Committee, until the final decision is made regarding Dr. Wu’s role.
England Boxing endorse calling the Extraordinary Congress to consider the issue of financing and governance within AIBA and deciding on Dr. Wu’s future. But England Boxing is concerned that this will not now resolve the conflict in the organisation. England Boxing chair Caspar Hobbs wrote a letter suggesting Wu consider standing down so a successor could be elected, therefore “resulting in the appointment of a presidential candidate who will unify the AIBA family and lead us into the very brightest and safest of futures”.