Corruption probe can clean up sport, says AIBA chief

LAUSANNE－International Boxing Association (AIBA) president Umar Kremlev expects that a probe into possible corruption involving referees and judges at the Rio Olympics will help clean up the sport.

Kremlev told Xinhua in a recent interview that he was looking forward to seeing the results of the independent investigation in August, and is hoping that reforms of his association will be completed by the end of 2021.

The AIBA hired McLaren Global Sport Solutions (MGSS), led by sports lawyer Richard McLaren, to investigate allegations of corruption and match-fixing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

All the boxing judges and referees from the Rio Games have been banned from the Tokyo edition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following a number of suspicious decisions five years ago in Brazil. The IOC has also barred the AIBA from organizing the Tokyo tournament.

The first phase of the McLaren report is expected to be published at the end of August.

"We are reviewing this, we are learning lessons, we are making up a list of mistakes that have been made, and a list of what needs to be done," said Russian Kremlev.

"The whole system needs to be changed. The mindset, the way referees think needs to be changed.

"We are going to educate a new generation of referees. No more corrupt referees are going to be allowed to judge, and they are going to have to take and pass some tests to make sure they are fair and not corrupt," added the 38-year-old former boxer.

Kremlev has repeatedly vowed to rid the sport of corruption, saying: "If the judges cannot act justly and fairly, it will be a major crime for athletes and it will ruin their careers. It cannot be allowed to happen again."

He reckons boxing officials need a wholesale change of mentality. "We need to understand that neither me, nor others, are here to manage, to run, to order, to command athletes. We are here to support them and assist them in any way possible," he said.

The AIBA has also employed an independent governance expert group to guide reforms of the association, and confirmed that an independent financial audit will be conducted.

After being elected as AIBA president in December last year with 57 percent of the vote, Kremlev made fair play and integrity his top priorities. His goals are to make AIBA one of the most efficient sports associations in the world and return it to the Olympic family. "If we are successful, if we do stick to this promise, there will be no reason for the IOC not to incorporate with our organization," said Kremlev, who refused to comment on the IOC's decision.

He said the AIBA's sullied reputation belongs in the past and it won't be a problem anymore. However, he added: "We must remember why those bad things happened and know who did the wrong things."

According to Kremlev, the AIBA's financial issues have been solved and it is currently able to assist national federations.

"Nearly $7 million have been allocated to help national federations. We are enabling our athletes to earn money. Our continental tournaments also have prizes and we are planning to increase the amounts," said Kremlev, who rates the Chinese market as important to the sport's future.

"Since the coronavirus pandemic is going on around the globe, travel is not possible now. But I am pretty sure that it's going to happen soon. I will be able to go and talk to my colleagues in China," he said.

"There are a whole line of companies that are interested in investing in or supporting boxing, in sponsoring the AIBA. They have a lot to offer, a lot to show. China has a lot to show and is a power in boxing."

Xinhua