DECEMBER 22 - THE International Amateur Boxing Association's (AIBA) new president Ching-Kuo Wu (pictured)has set up a reform committee and appointed International Olympic Committee executive board member Gerhard Heiberg as its chairman as the sport aims to repair its tarnished reputation.

 

The IOC froze its payments to AIBA after accusations of bribery and corruption over scoring and judging at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.  

 

The former president of AIBA, Anwar Chowdry, has also been accused of personal corruption during his 20 year reign.

 

Chowdry lost the presidency to Wu from Chinese Taipei last month and he has immediately turned his attention to giving boxing a fresh start.

 

He has hired auditors PriceWaterHouseCoopers to conduct a full audit of all accounting books of AIBA for the period of 2002 – 2006 and together with Heiberg he has set up a reform committee with 11 members – seven outside professionals and four AIBA representatives.

 

According to AIBA’s website, the reform committee will have its first meeting on February 11 – 15 inTaipei next year.

 

Before this meeting, a massive survey to collect the voices of federations will be conducted and all boxing specialists around the world will have the opportunity to present their opinions to the Committee.

 

The IOC has already decided to release some of the frozen IABA funds.

 

The AIBA has  proposed a new judging system that will secure fair fights and accountability of judges, and the IOC has released $450,000 to purchase equipment for the new system.