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AIBA Hits Back, Claims Boxing Federation of India Owed Hosting Fee From 2018 World Championships

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has opposed claims made by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) regarding the shift of venue for the 2021 Men’s Boxing World Championships. The bone of contention -- a lack of clarity about the bank account for the transfer -- has been dismissed by the international body, which said that BFI made payments to an account in Serbia as late as December last year.
AIBA hits back at Boxing Federation of India

AIBA’s statement said that past transgressions by the Indian boxing federation was reason enough to shift the venue.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has disputed allegations made by Boxing Federation of India (BFI)  with regard to hosting the Men’s World Boxing Championship in 2021.  

“In 2017, the tournament was awarded to India, and a host city agreement was signed in January 2019. As per this agreement, half of the host fees were due and payable on 1 December 2019,” an AIBA statement said. “As New Delhi did not fulfill its obligations to pay the host fee as mentioned in the host city agreement, despite numerous reminders by AIBA and after having been offered multiple options to settle their obligations, AIBA had no choice but to terminate the contract in April 2020.”

On April 29, the BFI released a statement of its own, after the shift of venues. In the statement, BFI accused AIBA of ‘acting in haste’ without due consultation. BFI acknowledged the delay in paying the fee, but said it was because of AIBA’s inability in resolving issues regarding the bank account where the money was to be transfered. 

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AIBA’s statement said that past transgressions the Indian federation has made as reason enough to shift the venue. “The decision by AIBA was also prompted by the fact that almost two-third of the host fees due by BFI for having hosted the 2018 AIBA World Women’s Boxing Championships remains outstanding to date, more than 18 months after the event,” their statement said. 

“These host fees should have been paid by BFI in summer 2018. AIBA showed a lot of patience and comprehension, agreeing on numerous successive repayment plans, which were never respected by BFI.”

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AIBA countered the BFI’s statement on confusion over bank accounts too, noting that Serbia has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2019. This was a key reason stated by BFI regarding the nin payment of the host fees. Sticking the knife further into the Indian board, AIBA also reiterated that the ‘BFI [had] managed to make some payments to AIBA in the course of winter 2020.’

“In the current situation, AIBA cannot take the risk to suffer further losses caused by BFI’s failure to comply with its obligations,” the statement concluded.

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