WADA to inspect AIBA progress on improving anti-doping programmes

28 May 2016 12:53

The World Anti-Doping Agency will meet international amateur boxing's governing body (AIBA) in the next few weeks to inspect whether it has implemented recommendations to its anti-doping programmes following allegations it had conducted no out-of-competition tests in 2015.

Private Eye magazine claims staff at AIBA's headquarters in Lausanne revealed to WADA investigators in December that, in the year before the Rio Olympics, no amateur boxer had been tested out of competition in the 12 months prior to the visit while "virtually none" had been carried out in three years.

If AIBA is declared non-compliant with the WADA code, boxing could be banned from the Olympics. Britain and Ireland both have excellent medal prospects in boxing, such as Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor.

Press Association Sport contacted WADA, which would not confirm or deny the allegations but revealed it had passed on "recommendations of improvements and enhancements" following the visit so AIBA could meet the code.

A WADA spokesperson added: "The report contains various recommendations of different levels that have different timeframes based on their importance. So there is no one deadline.

"If WADA considers that there is no or too little follow-up from (AIBA) in terms of implementation and/or insufficient practice of the 2015 code, it can bring up the case for review at any time to its independent compliance review committee, which can in turn make recommendations to WADA's foundation board. This has not happened with AIBA to date.

"Follow-up meetings are scheduled with AIBA in the coming weeks to review the implementation of the recommendations and if the key recommendations are not being implemented then the matters will be escalated in accordance with WADA's ISO certified process for compliance."

There is intense scrutiny on doping in the run-up to the Rio Games after the International Olympic Committee revealed 23 athletes from five different sports involved at London 2012 returned adverse analytical findings after samples were re-analysed.

Attempts were made to speak to AIBA by Press Association Sport, but no representative returned any calls.

AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu divided opinion when he revealed earlier this year that top professional boxers would be eligible to compete in Rio under radical new proposals.

While the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao were in favour of the idea, others such as Britain's David Haye and former heavyweights Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson have voiced their opposition.

Doping in professional boxing has come to the fore in the past couple of weeks, with Deontay Wilder's defence of his WBC heavyweight title postponed due to opponent Alexander Povetkin testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.

The WBC revealed earlier this week that Lucian Bute, a past opponent of British pair Carl Froch and James DeGale, failed a doping test following last month's majority draw with WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack.

Source: PA