The Uzbek was chosen to replace Franco Falcinelli at the AIBA Extraordinary Congress in Dubai yesterday after the Italian decided to step down.

He had originally replaced C K Wu, forced out of office after 11 years following allegations of financial mis-management. 

Rakhimov has repeatedly been named as an Uzbek mafia boss in the media with strong links to organised crime, although he has never been prosecuted of anything. 

Last month, however, he was among 10 individuals announced they were imposing sanctions on because they were allegedly associated with the alleged Eurasian criminal entity, the Thieves-in-Law.

The IOC had already ordered AIBA to produce a report by the end of this month to brief them on the situation. 

But it is now set to be one of the main issues when the IOC Executive Board meets in Pyeongchang on Saturday and Sunday (February 3 and 4). 

"The IOC is extremely worried about the governance in AIBA," a spokesperson told insidethegames today. 

"The IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer will give a report to the IOC Executive Board Meeting this upcoming week in Pyeongchang. 

"The IOC EB will then decide on further measures following up on its decision of 6 December 2017. 

"Last year, the IOC EB had identified several specific requirements to be met by AIBA, particularly in the areas of governance, financial matters, anti-doping, judging and refereeing. 

"AIBA was expected to take actions to address these issues. 

"Until the required actions have been fully addressed by the Federation, the IOC had decided to withhold any future financial contributions to AIBA with immediate effect. 

"In all its decisions the IOC will respect the interest of the athletes from AIBA."

Rakhimov was moved to the role in accordance with the AIBA statutes, it was claimed, following a meeting held by the world governing body's Executive Board during the lunch break at the Extraordinary Congress, as the longest serving vice-president.

The Extraordinary Congress did not have the opportunity to vote on the decision to appoint the 66-year-old as Interim President but there was a big round of applause from the 250 delegates representing 109 National Federation following the announcement. 

The US Treasury claim that Rakhimov has provided "material support" to the Thieves-in-Law, a group born in the Soviet Union's prisons and which now allegedly operate in an underworld network that has spread beyond Russia to the world's great financial centres.

They claim Rakhimov warns the group of law enforcement issues, arranges meetings and address other problems.

"Rakhimov has been described as having moved from extortion and car theft to becoming one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals and an important person involved in the heroin trade," the US Treasury report claimed.

The US Treasury sanctions prohibits any persons from conducting financial or other transactions with these individuals and entities, and freezes any assets they may have under American jurisdiction.

Rakhimov was also on Interpol's most wanted list before being removed last September. 

Rakhimov's alleged mafia links saw him banned from entering Australia to attend the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games but he has long been powerful figure in the world of international sport and has served as President of the Asian Boxing Confederation and vice-president of AIBA for 15 years.

A permanent President to replace Wu is due to be elected at the AIBA Congress, scheduled to take place in Moscow between November 1 and 4. 

Burson-Marsteller Sport has been appointed by AIBA to produce a report and they made a presentation to the Extraordinary Congress following the decision to appoint Rakhimov Interim President.

"AIBA is in the process of preparing this report for the IOC, detailing the progress in the various areas and is confident to meet the IOC deadline," a statement from AIBA said today. 

"Therefore, AIBA understands that today’s IOC statement is only a public expression of its position from December 6, 2017. 

"In our view, this is nothing new.

"The success of AIBA’s Extraordinary Congress in Dubai and its decision to appoint a new leadership is another positive development, which should be welcomed by the IOC."