Questioning Boxing India’s (BI) move to postpone its July 9 elections indefinitely, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has set an August 15 deadline for the provisional body to either hold elections or face a blanket ban from international competitions.

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In a strong-worded letter, AIBA has categorically told BI that “a revamped constitution should be adopted alongside fresh elections by August 15” or the provisional recognition given to the newly-constituted body would be withdrawn. “This simply means that Indian boxers will not be allowed to compete under the Tricolour at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, in September-October this year,” a BI insider said on condition of anonymity.

AIBA’s latest missive could also mean that the world body will withdraw its recognition to the India Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc body. “Currently, it’s the IOA’s ad-hoc body which has the mandate to select the Indian boxing team for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this year,” the source added.

It must be mentioned here that BI had recently postponed the July 9 elections. This after all the formalities, including filing and withdrawal of nomination papers by the representatives of the state boxing units for various key posts, were completed. No specific reason was assigned for the indefinite postponement. The polls were to be held in Mumbai.

Well, dna has reliably learnt that AIBA toughened its stand after IOA president N Ramachandran shot off a letter to AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu soon after the BI decided to postpone its elections.

Ramachandran informed Wu that the IOA was in no mood to be a mute spectator. After all, there is a lot of frustration in the Indian boxing community over BI's decision.

BI, formed by a group comprising Sandeep Jajodia (chairman and managing director of Indian boxing sponsor Monnet Ispat Limited) and Udit Sheth (chief executive of Mumbai Fighters, the Indian franchise of the World Series of Boxing), was handed provisional recognition by the international body in May. This after the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) was suspended in December 2012 and later terminated for failing to adhere to AIBA’s guidelines on amending its constitution.

AIBA has now clearly instructed BI to take the election process forward from the AIBA-approved list of candidates. Also, there will be no fresh filing and withdrawal of nomination papers.