BFK among 24 federations in Africa to vote in AIBA Elections

Boxing Federation of Kenya [BFK] will be among the 24 federations in Africa set to participate at the upcoming International Boxing Association (AIBA) elections set to take place in response to a warning from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over its lack of progress in implementing crucial reforms.

The polls set for May 13-14 will see delegates electing new officials for its rebranded Board of Directors in a move aimed at delivering AIBA’s reforms in good governance, financial and sporting integrity.

According to BFK Director of Communications Duncan Kuria,Kenya is privileged to be among a few countries in the continent to take part in the exercise.

“In total there’s 54 federations in Africa and out of these only 24 will be eligible to vote during forthcoming elections and we will be glad to exercise our democratic right when the times comes.Past elections had happened virtually due to covid-19 pandemic and the upcoming edition will be physical as per the AIBA constitution.This will be happening concurrently with Women’s World Boxing Championships” he said.

The embattled organisation, suspended as the Olympic governing body for the sport because of issues with its governance, finances, refereeing and judging staged a Congress on December 12 to pave the way for elections – including for the President – to take place in 2022.

IOC, which suspended AIBA in 2019 and conducted the Tokyo Olympics boxing event through a task force, has reiterated “that serious concerns about AIBA remain” and the future of boxing in the 2024 Paris Games is not secure.

The incumbent Umar Kremlev is expected to defend his seat with Kuria,a former international boxer throwing his weight behind the Russian sports functionary and philanthropist.

“The current President has raised the standards of boxing through introduction of reforms which have immensely contributed to the growth of the sport in the world and I believe he should be given another opportunity” added Kuria.

A boxing tournament has been held at every Olympics since 1920, but the sport’s place in the Olympic program was in question when the IOC tired of AIBA’s scandals and questionable business practices under President Ching-Kuo Wu, who resigned in 2017.

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