Moustahsane is in line to replace Gafur Rakhimov, who yesterday declared his intention to step aside.

insidethegames was the first to report yesterday that Moustahsane, who became AFBC President last year, was the front-runner to succeed Rakhimov.

The appointment of the 50-year-old Moustahsane, a qualified doctor, is a formality as he was the only one of the five vice-presidents put forward for the role.

He is due to be confirmed as Interim President within the next five days, once an email vote of AIBA Executive Committee members has taken place.

It is possible Rakhimov, described as "one of Uzbekistan's leading criminals" by the United States Treasury Department, could return once an International Olympic Committee (IOC) inquiry has finished or if he is cleared of wrongdoing.

He has not called for new elections and it is unclear how long the Interim President will serve for.

Rakhimov and AIBA are hopeful his decision to step down, even if it proves a temporary move, will appease the IOC as the organisation had publicly stated his election as President was one of its main concerns with AIBA.

But the IOC said in a statement yesterday that the inquiry, established due to concerns over AIBA's governance, financial management and integrity of its competitions, was not solely focused on Rakhimov.

The investigation could lead to the IOC stripping AIBA of the right to organise the Olympic boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020.

According to AIBA's statutes, the Interim President is selected from one of the five vice-presidents.

insidethegames understands the vice-presidents, comprising the respective heads of the Continental Confederations, were asked whether they had any intention to become Interim President at today's Executive Committee meeting, held by teleconference.

Franco Falcinelli, the head of the European Boxing Confederation, declined, while Moustahsane was then proposed by another vice-president.

That proposal was seconded and Moustahsane accepted, leaving him as the only candidate.

Moustahsane was appointed Interim President of the AFBC in 2017 after then President Kelani Bayor was suspended for three years for "serious and unacceptable violations of the disciplinary code" by AIBA.

Bayor was banned following an alleged incident during June's African Boxing Championships in Brazzaville.

It meant Moustahsane, who was confirmed as permanent AFBC President last year, became an AIBA vice-president.

Moustahsane's appointment was not universally popular, however, with Angolan Boxing Federation head Carlos Luis Goncalves among the members of the continental body who challenged the decision.

The Moroccan was also part of the Interim Management Committee which spearheaded the coup against Rakhimov's predecessor as AIBA President, C K Wu.

Moustahsane's elevation to Interim President is likely to be confirmed before the IOC Executive Board meeting, due to take place in Lausanne from Tuesday (March 26) to Thursday (March 28).

An interim report from the Inquiry Commission will be presented at the meeting.

The IOC has pledged to hold a boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020 but this could take place without AIBA, which has claimed the continued uncertainty has affected fighters who do not yet know how to qualify.

AIBA openly defied the IOC investigation last month when it launched a bidding process for various Olympic qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

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