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The AIBA under Ching Kuo-Wu - readers
concerns & an invitation to the AIBA to respond
by Sue Fox and Michael O’Neill
February 22, 2015 |
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(FEB 22) The International Boxing
Association (AIBA) has undergone much change in the years since
Dr Ching Kuo-Wu took over the Presidency from previous
incumbent, Pakistan’s late Anjar Chowdary who in many other's
opinions ran the
association with an ‘iron fist’ almost a ‘dictator’.
Dr.Ching Kuo-Wu, when he took over had limited experience of
boxing in his home country of Chinese Taipei. Prior to his
involvement with the sport he was a noted Basketball player (Mr
Chowdary had been best known as an Engineering professor). Ching
Kuo-Wu on the other hand had vast experience of the commercial
world and was already a member of the I.O.C, thus the latter
body were ensuring there would be no repetition of the previous
problems.
That was back in 2006 so we wondered how boxing fans in general
(both Amateur and Pro.) view the AIBA under the genial
Taiwanese. Boxers and coaches in the ‘Amateurs’ will have their
own view but it is also important that those in the Pro. Sport
can have their opinion since the AIBA has recently introduced
both APB Pro Boxing and World Series boxing (WSB). Initially
this is for males only though there have been repeated
suggestions of late that women boxers may be included in 2015
(some say) or 2016 (at the latest), albeit perhaps no more than
2 or max.3 weight divisions.
WBAN staff and contributors from round the world have their own
opinions of the AIBA and their latest moves but we will refrain
for now from expressing these so that YOU, our readers, and also
the AIBA’s Dr.Wu can tell us what REALLY is happening in the
world of AIBA and how Dr.Wu sees the future of the sport he
loves. WBAN staff do of course have views, strong views, on a
number of topics but overall our main concern is not whether
women should or should not wear headgear but what we do say,
irrespective of who agrees or disagrees is that the ‘health and
safety’ of BOXERS come first and that boxers welfare must NEVER
be jeopardised by ANY governing body, Pro, or Amateur.
We are NOT M.D’s and we do NOT pretend to be, so we would like
YOUR views or concerns and equally important we would like to
hear from Dr.Wu telling us what the AIBA are doing to make
‘health and safety’ their priority too. Dr. Wu has gone out of
his way to cover the headgear issue yet many in the boxing
community he serves do not agree. Thus WBAN gives this platform
to the AIBA to tell us what MEDICAL EVIDENCE (we are happy to
publish this for benefit of one and all) is there that their
decision to remove headgear from men was safe – and indeed why
now it seems that they may even be ‘seriously considering’ going
down the same avenue for women.
Of course we know that there is no universally agreement between
boxers, even within the ‘amateur ranks’ and our view is that
even some pros would like to see some change. Professional
Medical expert’s views are more than welcome wherever you come
from.
Our contributors regularly hear from boxers and coaches who have
differing views on the AIBA’s recent stances. Many feel that
India’s Sarita Devi Laishram was harshly treated by her
Governing body and badly let down by the Indian boxing
authority. Indeed many feel that the AIBA was ‘wrong’ to only
punish the boxer and coaches and take no action against those
who judged the bout, especially bearing in mind that many boxing
referees and judges – and also South Korea’s ‘victor’ Ji Park
could not believe the verdict.
In fairness we must point out that following complaints from
India boxing community and media organisations, the AIBA did NOT
carry out a perceived threat to ban her for life. WBAN does NOT
seek to endorse the actions of Devi & coaches but equally we
feel that a ‘life ban’ would have been outrageous.
From the feedback we hear from round the world there is a view
being increasingly heard that the AIBA is becoming more and more
of an autocratic organisation which places itself and its future
prosperity at the ‘top of the tree’ whilst forgetting that
without Boxers, be they male or female, there would be NO AIBA.
Many from different Confederations feel “intimidated” and fear
being suspended or harshly judged in major competitions if they
voice any opinions against either their own NGB or any of the
AIBA’s confederations.
Finally, Dr. Wu can we hope dispel some of these accusations (or
myths?). A regular comment we hear is that such as boxers and
coaches are not listened to enough and more importantly that
many believe that boxing without headgear is not safe and that
the AIBA should NOT be pretending it is without providing the
medical evidence from INDEPENDENT medical authorities rather
than simply quoting (and then not publishing) surveys carried
out by their own Dr.Charles Butler, and even those according to
critics not recent ones.
Again not being medical experts we do NOT have any ‘professional
medical training’ to agree or disagree BUT we do know that there
have been many studies in countries like United States, Italy
and Sweden to name but three which appear to have contradictory
opinions and those often from other ‘medical experts’ No wonder
the poor boxers are confused!
Dr.Wu was profuse with his praise for the success of women’s
boxing in London 2012 yet hear we are in 2015/16 and still only
three weights albeit we understand that the European Olympic
Committee (EOC) already backed five weights back in 2013 – on
what basis Dr.Wu could that be taking the women’s sport forward?
Many would say it is a backward step, or at best standing still.
How many weights do you envisage in Tokyo 2020 – 3 again or 5?
Even 5 in 2020 would only be ‘standing still’ compared with the
EOC’s 5 in 2015? Progress? Do also tell us how you see female
boxers at AIBA Pro Boxing and WSB in the future? When, where,
which weights?
To cover all the points raised by concerned boxers and their
families we are happy to allow the AIBA to send us their details
response in two parts, Part 1 can respond to the ‘constructive’
criticisms and part 2, can outline future plans.
We would though be VERY DISAPPOINTED if any such detailed
response(s) did not include the medical evidence concerning the
‘headgear’ concerns.
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