IOA sets up Adhoc Committee to handle BFI, conduct elections

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a five-member Adhoc Committee including senior boxer Shiva Thapa to manage day-to-day affairs of the organisation till all issues are resolved.

With the elections for the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) being delayed and rising complaints of mismanagement, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a five-member Adhoc Committee including senior boxer Shiva Thapa to manage day-to-day affairs of the organisation till all issues are resolved. Along with Thapa, administrators Madhukant Pathak, Rajesh Bhandari, Dr. D.P Bhatt, and Virendra Singh Thakur will comprise the Adhoc Committee which will take "immediate steps to address the grievances raised by the boxing community, facilitate athlete participation in upcoming international competitions, and work towards conducting the IBF elections at the earliest".

The IOA, in its order, said that the tenure of the current BFI office-bearers ended on February 2 but the elections could not be conducted following a case over the previous elections in which the order has gone against the BFI.

“The IOA has been closely monitoring the administrative affairs of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). As per the governing norms, elections to the IBF were to be conducted on or before February 2, 2025. However, despite the prescribed timeline, the elections have not been held, resulting in administrative instability within the federation,” IOA president PT Usha said in a letter issued on Monday.

Usha said that several office-bearers and athletes have written to the IOA President complaining about the delay in the conduct of elections.