World amateur boxing body's under-fire president Gafur Rakhimov Friday resigned from the top job amid a dispute with the International Olympic Committee, which had threatened to take the sport off the 2020 Olympics roster.
Accused of having links to organised crime by the US Treasury department, Rahimov took over as International Boxing Association (AIBA) chief last year despite warnings from the IOC that it would jeopardise boxing's future at the Olympics.
The IOC had threatened to take the sport off the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster citing "governance issues" in the AIBA - Rahimov at the helm being a key concern for it.
In a press release, Rahimov stated, "... given the current situation, I have informed the AIBA Executive Committee of my intent to step aside as AIBA President in accordance with the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws, which allow the President to renounce to exercise his powers and to be replaced by an Interim President."
"I have called an AIBA Executive Committee's teleconference meeting over the weekend to address this matter and initiate the process of appointing an Interim President."
"Nevertheless, I have always said that I would never put myself above Boxing, and as President, I have a duty to do everything in my power to serve our sport and our athletes."