LONDON – An investigation was under way Friday following claims that multi-million dollar bribes were paid to ensure boxers from Azerbaijan won gold medals at the 2012 Olympics.
The BBC’s Newsnight programme revealed that an investigation had uncovered millions of dollars in bribes were paid by an Azeri national to organisers of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA)’s World Series of Boxing (WSB).
The money was allegedly paid to secure gold medals for Azeri fighters competing at next year’s London Games. AIBA president Wu Ching-Kuo told the BBC he would launch an immediate investigation into the claims.
“Thanks for informing us about this information,” Wu said. “I will immediately conduct an investigation into this because there is a zero tolerance policy in AIBA.”
Wu however appeared sceptical of the allegations.
“I must say it is totally untrue and ludicrous because AIBA and the WSB conduct in a very fair and transparent way,” he said.
“I want you to know… how much effort I put in to clean the house. Four vice-presidents, a secretary general, six members of the executive committee, all expelled because of wrongdoing.
“Any corruption or manipulation is totally unacceptable. We have been cleaning the house for the last four years. I can guarantee you AIBA, like the other international federations, is fighting corruption.”
The graft claims emerged as the World Championships – the first Olympic qualifying event for boxing – get under way this weekend in Baku.
The championships were moved to the Azeri capital after being originally awarded to the South Korean port city of Busan.
The BBC investigation, citing an unnamed insider, said the claims involved the AIBA’s World Series of Boxing, a full-time salaried tournament launched last year with the intention of retaining fighters in the amateur ranks.