New Delhi stripped of world championships

The 2021 Men's World Boxing Championships have been moved to Belgrade from New Delhi, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, AIBA said it had terminated New Delhi's contract after it did not pay an agreed host fee, meaning that India will have to pay a cancellation penalty of $500,000.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) blamed AIBA for its inability to pay the host fee, claiming that AIBA's bank account in Lausanne, Switzerland, had been "frozen".

"AIBA could not resolve these issues," Indian media quoted the BFI as saying.

"We have reasons to believe that the decision to change the venue of WCH-2021 was taken in haste without due consultation with BFI... the penalty that is imposed is shocking and surprising."

Xinhua - Agencies