WBC 'awards' Indonesia six-month ban<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has issued a six-month ban on
\nIndonesian boxers from taking part in international tournaments
\ndue to the high incidence of boxing-related deaths, which has
\nseen five casualties in the past 18 months.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken during the council's convention, which
\nwas concluded in Pattaya, Thailand, on Thursday. More than 500
\nrepresentatives from 50 countries attended the four-day meeting.<\/p>\n
Chandru G. Lalwani, WBC envoy to Indonesia, said that the ban
\nwas a probation and subject to a review.<\/p>\n
\"We'll just wait and see whether boxing contests can improve
\nwithin six months and whether the national boxing authority is
\nserious in its intentions to improve the situation,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post by phone from Pattaya on Friday.<\/p>\n
The ban means that Indonesian boxers are not entitled to
\nchampionship or ranking fights under the auspices of the WBC and
\nits Asia-Pacific affiliate, OPBF.<\/p>\n
Chandru, who also chairs the WBC finance committee, said that
\nthe details of the ban needed to be disclosed.<\/p>\n
\"I will explain more on the details of this punishment when I
\narrive back in Jakarta. This needs further elaboration, because
\nthere are a number of incorrect rumors flying around at the
\nmoment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
WBC and OPBF, however, did not rule out the possibility of
\nendorsing fights under a special permit.<\/p>\n
The two international bodies would like to see Indonesia carry
\nout reforms in its boxing organization, which Chandru said should
\nbe aimed at upgrading medical treatment, the welfare of boxers,
\nring officials and coaches.<\/p>\n
In response, Indonesian delegates pledged an overhaul with its
\nplan to establish a state commission, called the supervising and
\ncontrolling professional sports body (BP-POP), which the Ministry
\nof National Education had delegated to Chandru to elaborate on
\nthe plan's details.<\/p>\n
\"I spoke to members of the convention about the plan on behalf
\nof the government,\" Chandru said, adding that Toho Cholic
\nMutohir, the directorate general at the Ministry of National
\nEducation, had assigned him.<\/p>\n
\"Their response is positive,\" said Chandru, when asked about
\nthe WBC's stance. \"I have even asked them to help and they
\npromised they will,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Chandru also clarified the ongoing news at home concerning two
\nrival pro-boxing bodies, the Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI)
\nand the Indonesian Boxing Association (ATI).<\/p>\n
\"It's not true that their memberships have been suspended. The
\nfact is that WBC has never recognized them as members,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While ring deaths must have weighed heavily on the judgment,
\nOPBF's ruling code denies the two boxing bodies any room to make
\nan affiliation.<\/p>\n
\"OPBF has its own regulations. It is the state commission that
\nholds the legitimacy to hold boxing bouts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian boxers have rarely sought participation at WBC
\nchampionship bouts. The country's only two world boxing
\nchampions, Elyas Pical and Nico Thomas, have affiliated
\nthemselves with the WBC's rivals, the International Boxing
\nFederation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wbc-awards-indonesia-six-month-ban-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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