IOC restores boxing ties, releases funds

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today restored ties with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) agreeing to release part of the funds it froze after the 2004 Athens Games over controversial scoring decisions.

At the time, the IOC expressed concerns over the scoring process and the selection of judges and froze more than 1 million dollars in payments to the AIBA.

The departure last month of AIBA president Anwar Chowdry, who headed the association for 20 years and was accused of corruption, paved the way for the smoothing of ties with the IOC.

''This is a new era for boxing,'' IOC's Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli told reporters.

He said the decision to release a total of 450,000 dollars was a result of the leadership change and the overall decisions taken by the AIBA's congress recently.

''It is a mixture of both issues,'' Felli said.

New AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu has pledged to install a judging system that will secure fair fights and accountability of judges.

''We have agreed to release part of the amount which is necessary to buy the equipment for the new scoring system,'' IOC member Denis Oswald told Reuters after an Executive Board meeting in Kuwait.

He said the money would be used to purchase the equipment and once the system showed it was working well and was contributing to fair decisions then the IOC would consider releasing the remaining funds.

The IOC said some 300,000 dollars had been released today to the AIBA from the frozen money as well as an additional 150,000 dollars representing annual contributions of 50,000 dollars for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

''The IOC will continue to monitor boxing at the world championships that will take place next year,'' IOC Director of Communication Giselle Davies told reporters.

The boxing tournament in Athens was marred by several controversial scores that angered spectators and fans around the world.

Wu has also pledged to market the sport more aggressively in Asia, South America and Africa to increase revenues.

REUTERS SBA BST0302