The factional tug-of-war in the suspended Indian Boxing Federation is all set to spill into the Indian Olympic Association corridors with a section of the IBF protesting the voting rights of its President Abhishek Matoria in the IOA polls scheduled for February 9.
Some members of the IBF have written to the IOA Election Commission -- comprising Justice M S Calla, Justice R S Sodhi, and Justice S N Sapra (also the Returning Officer) -- to complain that Matoria's name in the electoral college is "illegitimate" as he has been de-recognised.
Matoria, senior vice-President Bhupinder Singh and Manipur Boxing Association Secretary General Khoibi Salam have been nominated by the IBF as its representatives for the February 9 elections.
But a section of the IBF has opposed the move, stating that the IBF should not even be represented at the polls due to the suspension imposed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
"A letter to this effect has been sent to the Election Commission, the International Olympic Committee, the IOA as well as AIBA chief Ching Kuo-Wu. This is illegal because Matoria, at present, has no authority to represent IBF," a source said.
IBF Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari also features in the electoral college of the IOA but as a representative of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Committee.
IOA polls are quite significant for the IBF as the AIBA has decided to seek its help in resolving the deadlock set the IBF's house in order.
The AIBA had cited Indian's suspension from the IOC as the primary reason for suspending IBF in December 2012.
