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IOA appoints ad-hoc panel to run boxing affairs; BFI calls move ‘illegal’

PT Usha says it couldn't conduct polls on time; federation says it wasn't consulted.

IOA chief PT Usha has slammed its EC members in a scathing letter addressed to the IOC Director of International Relations on Sunday. (PTI)

IOA chief PT Usha. (PTI)

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday appointed an ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) after it failed to hold its elections on time.

“IOA has been closely monitoring the administrative affairs of the Boxing Federation of India. As per the governing norms, elections to BFI were to be conducted on or before 02nd February 2025. Despite the prescribed timeline, the elections have not been held, resulting in administrative instability within the federation,” IOA president PT Usha said in a letter to the federation.

IOA has asked the five-member ad-hoc committee, headed by Madhukant Pathak, to conduct elections as the priority and also run the day-to-day affairs of the federation. The other members of the panel are Rajesh Bhandari (vice-chairman), DP Bhatt, boxer Shiva Thapa and Virendra Singh Thakur.

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“In view of the above and in accordance with the authority vested in the IOA, an ad-hoc committee is hereby constituted to oversee the affairs of the Indian Boxing Federation and ensure the smooth functioning of its activities until the conduct of free and fair elections. The ad-hoc committee shall also be responsible for routine day-to-day administration of the BFI,” the letter accessed by The Indian Express read.

BFI retaliates

BFI president Ajay Singh termed the formation of the ad-hoc committee ‘illegal’. In a letter addressed to Usha, he claimed that the decision was taken without consulting the federation and went against the IOA constitution. The BFI also claimed that the communication regarding elections was made to the sports ministry on February 2.

“As per Article 21.5 of the IOA Constitution, no decision pertaining to NSFs can be made without prior consultation with the relevant international federation. IOA, as the apex Olympic body in India, must respect and uphold the

autonomy of National Sports Federations. However, there is no indication that IOA consulted the International Federation before issuing this order, which constitutes a direct violation of established norms and protocols,” Singh wrote in his letter, in possession of The Indian Express.