"Office-bearers of the Indian Boxing Federation are damaging the image, reputation and interest of the sport," stated the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which terminated the Indian body from its fold.
So what about the fate of boxers and coaches in India? Thankfully, they remain unaffected by these developments and will be allowed to play under the AIBA flag till something is done about the condition of the Indian boxing governing body.
"It is with much regret that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee has decided to end any official relationship with its current suspended member, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) after an extensive evaluation and assessment of all issues surrounding the sport of boxing in India," the organisation said in a statement to the press.
"AIBA has always regarded India as one of the most important members of its family, but it has become impossible for us to bear the hard feelings, the pain and suffering the boxers as well as the boxing family in India had to go through under the past and recent leadership, which has also been damaging the image, reputation and interest of our sport in the country," AIBA President Ching Kuo Wu said.
IABF was first suspended in December 2012 but no official activity has been considered by the AIBA for over 16 months, as the September 2012 elections were said to be manipulated. The IABF has been waiting for the world body to recognise the present office-bearers - President Abhishek Matoria and Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari - which was not to be. The AIBA expects a clean set of office-bearers to take over with the new elections held in the country.
"It is believed that the only way to get the sport of boxing back on track in India would be for it to be left in the hands of trustful, clean and honest people who love boxing and to give the opportunity to any group of people with passion and love for our sport to submit applications for the establishment of a new National Federation,"AIBA said.
"AIBA will however not tolerate any government or sports authority interference in this process."
