(ATR) Complications from coronavirus for reforms of international boxing federation AIBA. The federation is under suspension by the IOC for concerns over governance, finance and judging.
The latest in a series of continental forums on the changes needed for IOC compliance set for Assisi, Italy is now on hold due to health warnings in Italy. The Feb. 29 meeting was to include representatives of the 51 national boxing federations in Europe. The meeting follows similar sessions in Fiji for Oceania and Panama for the Americas.
"The coronavirus outbreak in Italy worsened and Italy has by far the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe. Moreover, Italy has imposed strict quarantine restrictions in some regions which could last for weeks. Based on these sad circumstances, we are left with no option but to cancel the EUBC Forum, which was scheduled to take place on February 29th in Assisi," said AIBA Interim President Dr Mohamed Moustahsane in a statement.
AIBA says it will reschedule "when the situation is better".
Question marks will now surely rise over the fate of the remaining two forums for Asia and Africa. As the hotspot of the virus, Asian participation might be particularly affected.
Then there is the extraordinary general assembly scheduled March 20 in Budapest where the 203 national federations are supposed to adopt changes needed to elect new leadership.
At this stage delegates from numerous countries probably could not make the trip as a result of coronavirus restrictions. That could of course change as time for the assembly nears.
There was no immediate comment from AIBA on the upcoming events, other than the meeting in Assisi.
The qualification tournament for Africa for the Tokyo Olympics ends Feb. 29 in Dakar, Senegal with no apparent Impact from the virus. The tournament was handled by the IOC, not AIBA, one element of the IOC suspension of the federation.
Coronavirus News on Around the Rings
Reported by Ed Hula.