CAS Media Release - Serik Konakbayev / AIBA Election Committee
Press Release
30th November 2018
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rendered its decision in the appeal filed by Mr Serik Konakbayev, Vice President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and President of the Asian Boxing Confederation, against the decision taken by the AIBA Election Committee on 1 October 2018 in which his name was not included on the list of candidates standing for election for the role of AIBA President.
CAS has upheld Serik Konakbayev’s appeal. Accordingly, AIBA is ordered to include Serik Konakbayev in the list of presidential candidates standing for election at the next AIBA Congress, scheduled to take place on 2-3 November 2018 in Moscow.
In line with the parties’ agreement and in order to render a decision in advance of the election, the CAS Panel in charge of this matter conducted an expedited procedure with shortened time limits for the exchange of the written submissions and held a hearing at the CAS Court Office on 29 October 2018.
The CAS Panel found that the AIBA Election Committee treated all candidates equally and acted in good faith. However, the Panel emphasized that the Election Committee unduly refused the nominations returned on a wrong form by several federations in support of their candidate, while such nominations should have been considered as being validly expressed. Therefore, the Panel acknowledged that Serik Konakbayev reached the threshold of 20 nominations supporting his candidature for the AIBA Presidency within the relevant time limit. In conclusion, the CAS Panel came to the conclusion that the appeal should be upheld and that Serik Konakbayev should be allowed to participate in the election for the role of AIBA President.
