The World Boxing Council strongly objects the steps taken by AIBA
Press release
The World Boxing Council (WBC), widely recognized as the premier professional boxing sanctioning organization in the world, and José Sulaimán, its President, strongly object to the steps taken by the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) to organize professional boxing tournaments under the name WSB. According to AIBA/WSB, only boxers registered in their tournament will be eligible to compete at the Olympic Games to the exclusion of any boxers affiliated with any other organization. All boxers worldwide eligible under current Olympic Games’ requirements, regardless of their country of origin or the organization with which they are affiliated, should have the same opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games. AIBA/WSB's actions clearly constitute an attempt to establish a monopoly and a restraint of trade.
AIBA/WSB elitist attitude in disregard of the rights of the worlds’ boxers is further confirmed by their exclusion of third-world countries among their proposed tournament sites. In furtherance of its nefarious intentions, AIBA withdrew the letter "A," which denoted “amateur” from its acronym. By doing so, the new AIBA now has become part of a group of about 10 professional boxing organizations, all of which should have the same rights.
The WBC has sent three inquiries about the AIBA/WSB’s discriminatory actions to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president Jacques Rogge. In its inquiries, the WBC has asked Mr. Rogge to endorse or disavow AIBA/WSB's actions, which are illegal and in violation of the rights of the citizens of every nation and their legal boxing institutions. Mr. Rogge and the IOC have not given the WBC even the courtesy of a response. The WBC will remain vigilant and will continue to monitor AIBA/WSB 's abuses of power and attempts to demand that sovereign nations change their laws to accommodate AIBA/WSB's restrictive purposes. The WBC is committed to continue advising the boxing world and the world leaders of the sport about the danger to the sport of boxing that AIBA/WSB represents.
Source: english.wbcboxing.com/index.php/news/229-the-first-amateur-tournament-promoted-by-pri
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