By Ray Roberts
The newly registered Davis Adams Grenada Boxing Association is dead-locked in a raging battle with the original association of which they all were members.
Grenada now has two associations claiming to be the authentic representative of the sport. The consequences could be regrettable for aspiring boxers. Don’t be surprised if Grenada is suspended as a result of the two associations claiming to be the authentic representative.
Undoubtedly, the International Boxing Association (IBA) will ensure just one association sits at the level of the world body. At this time the 50-year-old Niel Roberts-led Grenada Boxing Association is affiliated with IBA. The recently formed Davis Adams association now claims it is the legitimate representative on merit having many of the top boxers as members and registered under the company’s act and recognized by the Ministry of Sports.
The two are bitter rivals, and having spoken to individuals on both sides compromise is unlikely. Already the matter is reported to the world body. It will investigate and subsequently take action.
Often the first step preceding the investigation is to suspend the conflicting parties and during this period boxers and officials are barred from representing the country.
The Davis Adams Grenada Boxing Association is challenged to justify its decision to form a rival organization. Just over a year ago, the International Boxing Association,(IBA) observed the original boxing association General Meeting and verified the paid membership that elected Niel Roberts as president.
The Meeting held at the Olympic Office was also observed by the Grenada Olympic Committee.
Yes, local sports have had bitter contests over leadership but it was civil. The contesting parties followed the constitution of the organization. The outcome is generally amicable and respected.
I attended a meeting of one of the fractions and urged the members to use the opportunities provided in the constitution to request a General Meeting and address their concerns. The suggestion was ignored.
The public brawl to control boxing is a disgrace. The people in the power grab are an embarrassment to sports. In my more than four decades of covering local sports and their associations, I have no record of any group of individuals walking up in the morning and forming a rival national association.
The precedent is dangerous. It has no place in civil society and in Grenada’s sports. It could encourage disaffected members in other sports to do likewise. The greatest danger is it creates disunity, dividing people into little groups fighting each other.
Dissatisfaction with the performance of an executive ought to be dealt with but not in a manner where 15 cricketers or footballers or basketballers come together and form an alternative association that could result in international suspension.
The formation of the new rival boxing association demonstrates a lack of knowledge regarding how the world body functions
The IBA has a procedure that sets out criteria for filing complaints against a national federation. Those who have a problem with the association ought to have used it.
Finally, the argument made by the Davis Adams group that their organization is registered under the Company’s Act and the old association is not is nonsense.
The vast majority of national federations, some formed 70-plus years ago are not incorporated under the Companies Act. It was not a requirement to become a member of the World Federation.
