IBF forms disciplinary committee to hear charges of fixing

New Delhi: The Indian Boxing Federation today (IBF) formed a three-member disciplinary committee to look into the allegations of manipulation in the World Championship trials, levelled by three boxers who were not picked for the event.

Speaking to PTI, IBF President Abhishek Matoria said the panel will issue showcause notices to the trio of Arjuna awardee Dinesh Kumar (91kg), national champion Dilbag Singh (69kg) and Praveen Kumar (+91kg) after a meeting here on Tuesday. The panel comprises Federation`s vice-Presidents I D Nanavati and Mukharjee Nirwan and chairman of the IBF`s Ring Officials Commission Narottam Singh Rawat. "The committee will meet here and issue notices to the three boxers tomorrow and accordingly the next step will be taken," Matoria said. The IBF chief said the boxers will get a chance to present their case but should be prepared for action if their allegations are not proved. "They will get their chance but action will be taken if the allegations are found untrue. But in case they apologise in writing and also explain who instigated them to make these allegations, the disciplinary committee will definitely take a view of that," Matoria said. "We are not looking to suspend them or destroy their careers but they also have to explain themselves. I have already said, either prove the allegations or accept that you were wrong or misguided by somebody," he added. "Let them apologise in writing if they cannot prove their charges, acknowledge that they were wrong and than we shall see." The selection of the Indian team for the World Championships ran into a controversy when Dinesh, Dilbag and Praveen alleged that the coaches and the selection committee during the August 26 to 28 trials were compromised. Asian Games silver-medallist Manpreet Singh (91kg), Asian Championships silver-medallist Mandeep Jangra and reigning national champion Satish (+91kg) were the boxers who were picked ahead of the disgruntled trio for the October 11 to 27 World Championships in Kazakhstan. The complaining boxers were beaten in exciting open trials in Patiala in front of a packed hall of fellow boxers and a selection panel which included veterans like Mehtab Singh and Padam Bahadur Mal besides IBF Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari. Dilbag, who has been caught in dope net twice in his career, had gone to the extent of saying that Arjuna awardee Akhil Kumar, who has mentored Mandeep, was behind his name being struck off from the selected list. Akhil has already stated that he would take Dilbag to court for defamation. PTI