New Delhi: The Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh has strongly condemned the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision to form a five-member ad-hoc committee to oversee the day-to-day functioning of boxing in the country.

The committee, LED by Madhukant Pathak, Includes Rajesh Bhandari (Vice Chairman), DP Bhatt, Shiva Thapa and Virendra Singh Thakur.

In a letter, which is in possession of Readaddressed to the IOA president PT Usha, Singh claims, “The order is legally untenable, lacks any valid authority in law and is in clear violation of due process.”

“No prior notice was issued to BFI nor was the federation afforded any opportunity to present its position, respond to queries or address any concerns before such an order was passed. The fundamental lapse in procedure renders the order arbitrary and without legal basis,” he added.

Boxing is undergoing a crisis with the International Boxing Association (IBA) facing suspension from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the international governing body failed to address concerns about governance, finances, and corruption.

Using the situation to his benefit, Singh claims that the decision was reached without consultation to the international federation.

“Furthermore, as per Article 21.5 of the IOA Constitution, no decision pertaining to NSFs can be made without prior consultation with the relevant International Federation. IOA, as the apex Olympic body in India, must respect and uphold the autonomy of NSF. However, there is no indication that IOA consulted the International Federation before issuing this order, which constitutes a direct violation of established norms and protocols,” the letter read.

The tenure of the Ajay Singh-led BFI expired on February 2 and the IOA received a number of complaints from athletes, coaches and concerned authorities regarding non-participation of Indian boxers in various important national and international events in recent months, forcing them to take immediate corrective measures.

Indian boxers have also missed out on the prestigious Strandja Memorial, which started on Monday in Sofia, Bulgaria due to the ongoing issues.

Singh also claimed that the measures are undertaken without any transparent justification.

“The IOA has no jurisdiction over the conduct of elections for National Sports Federations (NSF), yet this order has been issued in a manner that clearly suggests malafide intent. Additionally, it remains unclear whether this decision was taken with the due approval of the IOA Executive Committee, further casting doubt on its legitimacy.”

“I respectfully submit that the office order dated February 24 is misconceived, arbitrary and issued without following due process. It is, therefore, urged that the said order can be withdrawn immediately in the interest of fairness, transparency, and adherence to the principles of natural justice,” the letter concluded.