Back out from the National Games or face expulsion from national and international competitions. That’s the warning Boxing India (BI) has given to pugilists planning to take part in the multi-discipline event if the federation’s differences with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are not sorted out before the Games begin on January 31.

The newly formed federation’s president Sandeep Jajodia has written to IOA president N. Ramachandran on Tuesday saying they are ready to cooperate in the conduct of the National Games boxing event only if the ad-hoc committee is dismantled with immediate effect. If they fail to do so, he asserted that Boxing India will expel all boxers and technical staff who take part in the event.

Some of the top men and women boxers have already confirmed their participation for the Games. As on Monday, the organisers had received 163 entries (104 men and 59 women), which included the likes of Olympians Sumit Sangwan, Jitender Singh and Manoj Kumar. In the women’s section, Haryana girls Pinki Rani and Pooja Rani apart from Manipur’s S Sarjubala Devi are in the fray.

Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh, who is recovering from an injury, is likely to decide on his participation in a couple of days whereas the organisers said London Games bronze medal winner Mary Kom could be a ‘last-minute entrant.’

“The president of Boxing India has made it clear in the letter they are ready to accept IOA’s demands on the National Games only if they dismantle the ad-hoc body immediately,” a source said. “If not, then boxers, coaches, referees and judges, doctors and other officials will face expulsion and will not be considered for future national camps or championships — domestic or international.”

At loggerheads

The IOA and Boxing India have had differences over the qualification criteria for the National Games.

While Boxing India has insisted that the quarterfinalists in each weight category be selected along with a couple of wild card entries, the IOA wants a state-based quota system. While the number of boxers who’ll participate will remain the same in both these criteria, Boxing India officials say IOA’s method will compromise on the quality of the boxers.

The IOA and Boxing India have been at loggerheads for quite some time. Even though the sports ministry and International Boxing Association (AIBA) have recognised Boxing India as the governing body, the IOA has refused to grant them the same status.

Instead, they have continued to assert the functional authority of their ad-hock committee which was formed to select teams for the Commonwealth and Asian Games last year after the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was terminated by the AIBA for allegedly rigging its elections.

The IOA has maintained that IABF remains registered with it as the recognised body for running boxing and has labelled Boxing India as a parallel body despite it enjoying the world body’s approval.