15 countries officially appealed to the Boxing International Association (IBA) with a request to transfer from Yerevan the organization’s extraordinary congress planned for September 25, reports haqqin.az.
Representatives of the USA, France, England, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Iceland, Philippines, New Zealand and Ireland, insisting that the congress on which the IBA presidential election should be held again , transferred from Armenia to the Swiss Lausanne.
Uniting a group called the alliance of a common cause and fighting for transparency in boxing in order to maintain this sport in the Olympic program, the national federations of these countries call the decision of the IBA board on the holding of a congress in Yerevan “unacceptable for a number of reasons.”
“Firstly, the independent investigative group of McLaren is currently studying the alarming events that occurred at the European -2022 championship in Armenia,” says a letter published in the British media. “including accusations of corruption, unauthorized exits The ring and subsequent intervention of the board of directors of the European boxing confederation in the competitions of competitions. “
Alliance accuses the president of the Boxing Federation of Armenia, which is not surprising. During the European Championship, representatives of the Armenia national team burst into the ring without permission, which led to numerous breakdowns of the competition and caused serious concerns about security.
“Secondly, the Armenian government is a close military and political ally of Russia, which is currently carrying out an illegal military invasion of Ukraine, – the authors of the appeal continue. – Currently in Armenia, Russian military, including the 102nd, are deployed in Armenia. The military base in Gyumri and the 3624th air base at Erebuni Airport near Yerevan. Cooperation between the governments of Armenia and Russia takes place as part of an organization of the collective security agreement (CSTO).
Are these facts taken into account when making a decision on a congress in Armenia? How could Iba make such a decision, given the ongoing independent investigation of the anxious events that took place during the European Championship in Yerevan? How could IBA allow the organization of Congress in the country where the military, violating the Olympic truce and continuing illegal invasion of a sovereign country?
We urge the IBA board to consider these facts and immediately change the venue of the congress. We believe that the optimal solution for IBA would be the conduct of this important congress in Lausanne, which, according to the president of IBA, is the “home and heart of international boxing.”
IBA representative confirmed that the letter was received and in the near future it will be considered.