BAKU, Sept. 23 -- The Azerbaijan Boxing Federation disclaimed accusations on Friday on collusion with the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), made by BBC TV's Newsnight.
Citing unnamed "whistleblowers" and "insiders," BBC's Newsnight program on Thursday alleged that the 9 million dollars was paid by an Azeri national to the World Series of Boxing (WSB), a franchised league supported by AIBA, for the promise that the nation would receive two boxing gold medals in the upcoming 2017 Olympic games.
According to the Vice President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation, it is an absurd allegation. "Each club pays half a million US dollars to AIBA for the participation.
Azerbaijan paid this amount for the participation of Baku Fires in the 2017 Olympics, he emphasized. "Baku was entrusted with 2011 World Championships of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). And the BBC report surfaced on the eve of the championship, as competitors from all over the world converged on Baku for the first major qualifying event for next summer's games. I think the report was made by Azerbaijan's enemies and the enemies of AIBA," ABF official said.
AIBA President Dr. Ching Kuo Wu said the allegations were " totally untrue and ludicrous" and that the "WSB is conducted in a totally transparent way." AIBA President will give a press conference in Baku on Sept. 24. The allegations are set to cast a huge shadow over Baku's bid to host the 2020 Olympics.