The move by AIBA's ruling Executive Committee Bureauv comes as a result of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board decision to suspend the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for not holding their elections under the Olympic Charter in its election process.

The move to provisionally suspend the IABF is no major surprise given that the only candidate remaining in the controversial race for the IOA Presidency was Abhey Singh Chautala, who is the chairman of the IABF.

The move to provisionally suspend the IABF was overseen by AIBA President CK Wu, who is also a member of the IOC Executive Board that decided to suspend the IOA from the Olympics until further notice.

"Further to the IOC's suspension imposed on the IOA, the AIBA Executive Committee Bureau has decided to provisionally suspend the IABF," said an AIBA statement.

The statement continued that the suspension is also a result of possible corruption in the IABF elections which took place in September.

At the IABF elections, the Indian Sports Ministry ruled that Chautala could not stand for the role of President because he had already served three consecutive terms in the position.

But despite the fact that Chautala did not stand for Presidency, leaving 29-year-old Abhishek Matoria to take the role, Chautala was controversially nominated to the newly created post of chairman, essentially meaning that he retained control of the IABF.

The situation is made even more suspicious given that new IABF President Matoria is actually Chautala's brother-in-law.

"This provisional suspension is also due to the fact that AIBA had learned about possible manipulation of the recent IABF's election," continued AIBA's statement.

"AIBA will now investigate this election and especially a potential political link between IOA President, as chairman of the IABF, and the IABF election."

The move leaves India boxing, and India Olympic sport in general, in a major crisis.

But Chautala has made it clear he is willing to quit the IABF if it will make AIBA lift their suspension, which bans Indian boxers from all AIBA Olympic Boxing (AOB) competition.


"We [the IABF] are ready for a re-election and I am ready quit the post of chairman," said Chautala.

"AIBA can send its observer and fix the date also I have told the IABF President and secretary general to speak to the AIBA officials and sort out the matter.

"Whoever has complained against us is against the country.

"There is no problem in boxing."

Chautala also said the issue of IOA suspension is likely to be resolved once IOC officials return from their Christmas holidays.

"Now the Christmas holidays will start in Europe and after that, we will look for a quick solution," he said.

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