The guidance from the IOC’s executive board — almost certain to be rubber-stamped by the full IOC membership next month — followed a months-long investigation into alleged serious mismanagement at the crisis-riddled International Boxing Association (AIBA).

The probe “speaks for itself,” IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters in Lausanne.

He said the evidence details “extremely serious issues” within AIBA ranging from “deficiencies” in governance, to lack of due diligence and conflicts of interest.

In ousting AIBA from the Tokyo Games but creating a new path for boxers to compete, the IOC was seeking to ensure that athletes “can live their dream and participate in the Olympic Games” while making sure AIBA faced “the necessary consequences,” Bach said in a statement.

The IOC probe was led by audit firm Deloitte, and centred on subjects ranging from finances, governance and ethics to anti-doping, refereeing and judging.

The probe determined that AIBA has made “a lack of satisfactory progress,” in resolving its issues, the IOC said.

In a statement, AIBA said that it had “taken note of the announcement made by the IOC” but refused to be drawn on what it’s next move would be.

“AIBA is currently reviewing the report from the IOC and will not make any comments until further clarification is made, however AIBA does look forward to working with the IOC in the future,” it said.

Matthieu Reeb, Secretary General of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), told AFP that “no appeal would be possible until a final decision has been made” but that the Olympic Charter enables the CAS to rule on an appeal should AIBA decide to file one.

– Controversial leadership –

Formed in 1946, AIBA has overseen decades of signature Olympic moments, notably the 1960 gold medal win in Rome by Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay.

But its reputation has been tarnished in recent years as it careened from crisis to crisis.

Relations between AIBA and the IOC took a sharp downward turn following the 2016 Rio Games, when 36 officials and referees were suspended amid allegations of bout fixing.

An internal investigation by AIBA raised deeper questions about the judging in Rio, with particular suspicion falling on a French official.

Then in 2017, AIBA executives forced out the body’s president C.K. Wu, amid claims of multi-million dollar accounting fraud.

Wu, a Taiwanese national, denied wrongdoing and remains a member of the IOC, an indication that he retains the support of senior Olympic officials.

Wu was ultimately replaced by the controversial Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov, who the US Treasury Department has linked to “transnational criminal organisations”.

Rakhimov, who stepped aside in March, vehemently rejects such charges and insists the allegations against him are “politically motivated lies”.

Bach said that because Rakhimov has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, dealing with AIBA posed a “high risk… (for) anybody who is subject to US jurisprudence.”

Complications surrounding Rakhimov’s designation by the US government “played a major role in the deliberations of the inquiry commission,” Bach said.

Rakhimov was replaced as interim president by Moroccan doctor Mohamed Moustahsane — the fourth head of AIBA in 18 months.

Before the announcement, AIBA’s leadership had insisted that the organisation had met all the requirements stipulated by the IOC.

The governing body’s chief executive Tom Virgets told AFP earlier this month that the organisation had “done everything that has been asked by the IOC”.

“Every single document asked, we produced, every single requirement we have met,” he said.

– Boxing in Tokyo –

Addressing boxers hoping to compete in 2020, Bach vowed that “there will be an Olympic tournament in Tokyo.”

The IOC has created a special taskforce led by Morinari Watanabe of the Japanese Olympic Committee to organise both the qualifiers and the Tokyo competition.

Details have yet to be hammered out, but the IOC said qualifications will take place between January and May 2020.

Boxers, Bach said, should rest assured that there will be a “fair competition in which all the athletes have equal and fair chances.

The 2022 tournament in the Gulf state will now be played with 32 nations taking part.

FIFA said it had abandoned the expansion plans “following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process” which led to the conclusion that “under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now”.

“(The tournament) will therefore remain as originally planned with 32 teams and no proposal will be submitted at the next FIFA Congress on 5 June,” FIFA said in a statement.

The expansion was a pet project of Infantino, who pushed the idea despite the likely need for Qatar’s neighbours to put aside a two-year blockade and help to host an expanded tournament.

“The involvement of these countries in the organisation of the tournament jointly with Qatar implies the lifting of this blockade, in particular the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods,” said a feasibility study submitted to March’s FIFA Congress in Miami.

The study, seen by AFP, also claimed that a Qatar World Cup with 48 teams would generate “between $300-$400 million (265-354 million euros) of additional income”.

Specifically FIFA was counting on an additional $120 million in TV rights, $150 million in marketing rights and $90 million from ticket sales.

The news comes after Europe’s top football clubs said in March they would boycott an expanded 24-team Club World Cup — also backed by Infantino — which is planned to take place in June and July 2021, replacing the Confederations Cup tournament.

– Complicated proposition –

An announcement of the final decision had not been expected until next month’s FIFA Congress to be held in Paris ahead of the women’s World Cup that takes place in France between June 7 and July 7.

FIFA said it had examined the possibility of Qatar hosting a 48-team tournament on its own, but a study “concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June”.

FIFA has dropped the plan to expand the 2022 tournament despite recommending in March that the number of teams should be raised to 48 for that tournament, ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Expanding the competition for the 2022 tournament was always a complicated proposition. FIFA had sounded out potential co-hosts in the region willing to support Qatar, a complicated proposition for Doha which is subject to an ongoing embargo by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies.

Qatar’s Supreme Committee, charged with the organisation of the tournament, said in reaction to FIFA’s decision that “Qatar had always been open to the idea of an expanded tournament in 2022 had a viable operating model been found and had all parties concluded that an expanded 48-team edition was in the best interest of football and Qatar as the host nation.”

But it said there was insufficient time to make a deeper assessment before the June deadline and “it was therefore decided not to further pursue this option.”

“With just three and a half years to go until kick off, Qatar remains as committed as ever to ensuring the 32-team FIFA World Cup in 2022 is one of the best tournaments ever and one that makes the entire Arab world proud,” the Supreme Committee said.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of supporting Iran and Islamist groups.

Qatar vehemently denies the charges and says Saudi Arabia and its allies are aiming to incite government change in the emirate, the world’s largest exporter of liquified natural gas.

Gulf states Kuwait and Oman have not taken sides in the crisis. However, Oman said in April it was “not ready” to host matches.

The European team who won their only World title in 2002 and finished seventh in the Nations League last year employed their better teamwork and fast attacks to beat the Kingdom’s side for their second Pool 1 win. Italy have beaten Thailand 13 out of 15 encounters.

Thailand, with one win against Germany and one defeat will face host Poland tonight.

Thailand coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul says in the post- match interview that: “It’s good for Thailand team to play against a strong opponent like Italy. The Italians play really well on every position, so it is never easy to fight with them. We are happy that we can gain experience playing in a tournament like this one. I am sure that every piece of knowledge we get here, will make us better in the future. Today Italy play well in attack and that was the key to their win. Tomorrow we will play against Poland, we know them from Montreux Volley Masters, and we know what can be expected from this game.”

Thailand captain Nootsara Tomkom says: “We knew that it will be a difficult game for us. Italy is a strong team and they showed it today. They put pressure on us with service and it caused problems in our reception. In addition, our opponents played very fast today and it was hard for us to block them. Against Poland we have to play our volleyball and do our best. We met each other in Montreux so we know their style of play. I hope that this experience will be helpful for us.”

After beating Russia 3-2 on Tuesday, Thailand faced Japan in the battle for the top spot of the group that ended in the Japanese favour 1-4.

Kittinupong Kerdren and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet lost the opening men’s doubles rubber to Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda 14-21 13-21 before Thai No 2 Pornpawee Chohuwong saved three match points to upset world No 4 Akane Yamaguchi 9-21 21-14 22-20 in women’s singles.

The Thai resistance ended just there as they lost all remaining rubbers. Sitthikom Thammasin, despite  a 17-13 lead in the first game, failed to capitalize on his opportunity and  lost to world No 1 Kento Momota 19-21 10-21 in men’s singles.

World No 4 Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahasi sealed off the victory for Japan with a 21-17 21-17 win over Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai in women’s doubles,

In the meaningless mixed doubles, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai lost to Yut a Watanabe and Arisa Higashino 11-21 14-21 as Japan surged to the top of the group with two wins, followed by Thailand at second with one win against one defeat. Russia, with two defeatsm were out of the tournament.

Thailand face South Korea today at 5pm in the knock-out stage. Thailand finished third in the 2017 Cup.

On the final day of last year’s event, Ariya carded six birdies in the final round to earn a playoff against In Gee Chun and Nasa Hataoka. It only took two extra holes and two birdies for the Thai to secure her first of three wins during the 2018 season and her second victory at the Kingsmill Resort River Course. Her first was in 2016.

The win was the catalyst of what became an impressive year for the former World No 1, who went on to win the US Women’s Open and the Scottish Open – she went on to sweep the season-ending players awards, including the Rolex Player of the Year.

At this year’s tournament, she is looking to start fresh, even if it means not dwelling on her 2018 accomplishments.

“It’s getting more tough and tough like when I try not compare myself to last year, but I still doing okay with that. Even like sometime I think about the outcome so much so it makes it harder to play well,” said Ariya. “I just really have to come back and focus on those things that are under my control. I’ve been working on that with my coach. So I think I’m getting better.”

Her highest finish this year was at the LOTTE Championship, where she tied for third. She said it was in Hawaii that she started to feel herself focus on her “process,” thanks in part to her team around her.

“I feel I’m so lucky, because every time I feel I am struggling they help me, they support me, they always give me the best support,” she said.

With a two-week break under her belt, the Thai feels rejuvenated and ready to keep her mindset in check. A win this week would make her the second three-time winner of this event, along with Cristie Kerr.

“During the last few months the only thing I have been thinking is that I want to play well. I want to finish top 10. I keep asking like why. I keep asking myself why,” said Ariya.

“But right now I’m just going to tell myself how I’m going to do this. So just come back to that. I think I’m on my way.”

In an attempt to develop Thailand’s marathon events to meet international standards the summit, the first of its kind in Asia, will bring in people with a vast experience of running or managing marathons to share their knowledge.

“The summit is in line with our policy to develop marathon events in Thailand to meet international standards and get recognition worldwide, said Kongsak Yodmanee, governor of Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).

“In addition, we attempt to use sports as an economic boost for cities and communities, especially secondary cities. With such an importance, we have supported the meeting with the cooperation from many private and public sectors.”

The summit will discuss logistics, traffic management, course measurement, security, police, volunteers, sponsorship and copyrights. Moreover, all the parties involved in the running industry ranging from organisers, sponsors, agencies, companies to service organisations will be invited to attend in order to learn and then apply information to improve their own events to international recognition.

The governor added that several marathon specialists had confirmed they would take part in the meeting at the Riverie by Katathani hotel in Chiang Rai province.  These include Boston Marathon Start Line Director Andy Duchesne, Chicago Marathon representative Lacy M Howen, New York City Marathon Finish Line Coordinator David Katz,  and Manabu Tanaka, International Relation, Tokyo Marathon.

Pol Maj. Gen Surapong Ariyamongkol, vice president and general-secretary of the Athletic Association of Thailand, said that all the theories and knowledge from the summit will be put into practice at the Umay+ Chiang Rai 2019 21.1 international half-marathon on July 7.

The verdict to be delivered by IOC president Thomas Bach comes after an investigation into the International Boxing Federation (AIBA), which has faced allegations of serious mismanagement.

Formed in 1946, AIBA has overseen decades of signature Olympic moments, notably the 1960 gold medal win in Rome by Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali.

But relations between AIBA and the IOC took a sharp downward turn following the 2016 Rio Games, when 36 officials and referees were suspended amid allegations of bout fixing.

An internal investigation by AIBA raised deeper questions about the judging in Rio, with particular suspicion falling on a French official.

Then in 2017, AIBA executives forced out the body’s president C.K. Wu, amid claims of multi-million dollar accounting fraud.

Wu, a Taiwanese national, denied wrongdoing and remains a member of the IOC, an indication that he retains the support of senior Olympic officials.

Wu was ultimately replaced by the controversial Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov, who the US Treasury Department has linked to “transnational criminal organisations”.

Rakhimov vehemently rejects such charges and insists the allegations against him are “politically motivated lies”.

Rakhimov stepped down in March, while the IOC audit into AIBA’s affairs was ongoing.

He was replaced as interim president by Moroccan doctor Mohamed Moustahsane — the fourth head of AIBA in 18 months.

– Boxing in Tokyo? –

Audit firm Deloitte, which led the AIBA probe on behalf of the IOC, submitted a list of 41 questions to the boxing federation, on subjects ranging from finances, governance and ethics to anti-doping, refereeing and judging.

AIBA’s current leadership insists the organisation has met all the requirements stipulated by the IOC.

The governing body’s chief executive Tom Virgets told AFP this month that the organisation had “done everything that has been asked by the IOC”.

“Every single document asked, we produced, every single requirement we have met, including our president self-suspending,” he said, referring to Rakhimov’s departure.

Media reports have indicated that AIBA would sue if it is denied the right to organise boxing, including the qualifications, for the Tokyo Games.

Asked on May 7 if AIBA planned to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Virgets said the body planned to “explore” its options, but declined further comment.

Bach has indicated that IOC would be capable of organising an alternative qualification process, independent of AIBA, as a means to ensure boxing is featured in Tokyo.

Melbourne –  Thailand’s rising star Jazz Janewattananond has improved his chances of qualifying for the International Team to face the United States Team at the Presidents Cup this December following an impressive showing at the recent PGA Championship where he finished T14 in his debut appearance.

Jazz, who won the SMBC Singapore Open in January, moved up four positions from 16th to 12^th place on the latest International Team points list while countryman Kiradech Aphibarnrat is ranked 17^th. The duo are Thailand’s two best chances to qualify for the International Team this year. Countryman Thongchai Jaidee featured in the 2015 edition in Incheon, Korea.

The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, from December 9-15, 2019, when the International Team, led by Captain Ernie Els, will take on the U.S. Team led by Captain Tiger Woods.

Jazz captivated New York golf fans with a stellar display last week where he entered the final round in T2 position. He fought gallantly on Sunday before slipping back with a closing 77 to post Thailand’s best finish in the PGA Championship.

“It’s on the back of my mind for sure,” Jazz said of qualifying for the Presidents Cup. “I played with Ernie a couple weeks back, and he just told me to keep playing good. So I’ll see about that.”

Els, who will spearhead the International Team as captain for the first time, has been keeping a close tab on Janewattananond’s progress after playing together in Malaysia recently.

“Another international player who has caught my attention is Jazz. This kid has got talent and at Bethpage Black, he showed us what he can do with a solid T14 finish. Though it may seem as if the world was introduced to Jazz last week, this 23-year-old has had his fair share of professional success after turning pro at age 14. He’s won three times on the Asian Tour and defeated a strong field at the Singapore Open this year. With the PGA being just his fourth PGA TOUR start, it was quite encouraging to see him perform so well under an enormous amount of pressure.”

Korea’s Sung Kang also enhanced his prospects of qualifying for the International Team after a magical two-week spell where he won his first PGA TOUR title at the AT&T Byron Nelson and finished seventh at the PGA Championship. He has vaulted 28 spots in the standings from No. 38 to No. 10 and is currently the highest-ranked Korean in the standings.

“If I get in, I’ll be honored to play in the Presidents Cup,” Kang said following his win.

Other admirable performances at the PGA by International Team hopefuls included a T8 finish by Adam Scott, who remains No. 11 in the standings. The top 5 of the International Team standings remained consistent, with Marc Leishman sitting atop the standings, followed by Louis Oosthuizen, Hideki Matsuyama, Haotong Li and Cameron Smith. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, who finished T16 in his PGA Championship debut, moved one rung up into eighth position, swapping places with Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan, winner of last month’s RBC Heritage.

The top-eight players following the BMW Championship, the second of three events in the FedExCup Playoffs, will earn automatic places in the International Team, with Captain Els making four picks following the PGA TOUR’s Asian swing in early November.

 On the U.S. Team points list, Brooks Koepka successfully defended his PGA Championship title in wire-to-wire fashion for his sixth win on the PGA TOUR and fourth major championship victory while solidifying his bid to join the U.S. Presidents Cup Team for a second time. Koepka jumped from No. 5 to No. 2 in the standings behind Dustin Johnson, who remained atop the standings after finishing runner up at Bethpage Black outside New York City.

Koepka, 29, made his Presidents Cup debut in 2017 at Liberty National where he produced a 2-2-0 record, which included two Four-ball match wins with Johnson as his partner. With the win at the PGA, Koepka joined U.S. Team hopefuls Xander Schauffele(No. 4) and Matt Kuchar (No. 5) as players with multiple victories on the PGA TOUR during the 2018-19 season. Schauffele and Kuchar finished T16 and T8, respectively, to maintain their position inside the top 8 in the standings.

Elsewhere on the U.S. Team standings, Patrick Cantlay moved into position for one of the top-eight automatic qualifier spots after a T3 finish at the PGA Championship elevated him four spots from No. 12 to No. 8. The 27-year-old Long Beach, California native has seven top-10 finishes in 13 starts this season and is in search of his first Presidents Cup appearance.

Three-time Presidents Cup participant Jordan Spieth returned to form with a T3 finish of his own at Bethpage Black. At No. 38 in the standings, the 11-time PGA TOUR winner and former Australian Open champion will need a solid run over the next three months in hopes of locking up an automatic qualifier spot in mid-August.

Playing his first tournament since his Masters triumph, U.S. Captain Woods missed the cut and dropped two spots in the standings to No. 11.

The top 15 players in the International and U.S. Presidents Cup Team Standings as of May 20, 2019 are listed below. Click here for the full Presidents Cup standings.

INTERNATIONAL

Rank    Player                          Country                       Points

1.         Marc Leishman             Australia                       136.30

2.         Louis Oosthuizen          South Africa                  131.93

3.         Hideki Matsuyama        Japan                            122.76

4.         Haotong Li                   China                           115.86

5.         Cameron Smith            Australia                       107.08

6.         Jason Day                     Australia                       102.85

7.         Justin Harding              South Africa                  102.04

8.         Abraham Ancer             Mexico                         97.99

9.         C.T. Pan                       Chinese Taipei             96.04

10.        Sung Kang                    Korea                           94.05

11.        Adam Scott                   Australia                       91.37

12.        Jazz Janewattananond    Thailand                       82.49

13.        Si Woo Kim                 Korea                           78.84

14.        Shugo Imahira              Japan                            76.99

15.        Corey Conners             Canada                         76.72

UNITED STATES

Rank    Player                                      Points

1.         Dustin Johnson                         6,327

2.         Brooks Koepka                         6,116

3.         Justin Thomas                           5,359

4.         Xander Schauffele                     5,169

5.         Matt Kuchar                             5,099

6.         Bryson DeChambeau                4,471

7.         Rickie Fowler                          4,199

8.         Patrick Cantlay                         3,816

9.         Tony Finau                               3,682

10.        Gary Woodland                        3,671

11.        Tiger Woods                            3,638

12.        Phil Mickelson                         3,521

13.        Webb Simpson                         3,458

14.        Charles Howell III                    3,134

15.        Kevin Kisner                            3,106

International Team eligibility criteria

The top eight (8) international players (excluding those eligible for the European Ryder Cup team) from the Presidents Cup International Team Points List which shall be Official World Golf Ranking points accumulated in the time period from August 27, 2018 (Dell Technologies Championship) through August 18, 2019 (BMW Championship).

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

U.S. Team eligibility criteria

The top eight (8) U.S. PGA TOUR members who have earned the most FedExCup points from September 11, 2017 (2017 BMW Championship) through 2019 BMW Championship, weighted as follows:

(a) 2017 BMW Championship through 2018 TOUR Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 1 point

(b) First event of the 2018-2019 season through 2019 BMW Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 2 points

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

Good serving was the key for today’s win in coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul’s eyes as his side toppled the European team 26-24 25-19 25-22 but the Thai coach expects a huge challenge against Italy on Wednesday.

Thailand captain Nootsara Tomkom: “Before the tournament we expected to beat one team from these three and we achieved our goal on the first day. We were very focused during the game and helped each other. Moreover, we realized our tactic and played faster. I am happy with the result and ready for next challenge. Of course the most difficult game will be the one against the hosts, but we should be concentrated on every single game at hand.”

Thailand coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul: “Tomorrow we will play with Italy, a very good team which plays perfect on high ball. We have to be focused on the game, play our top-level volleyball and do our best. It will not be an easy match for sure. We have to play our volleyball and the most important thing will be our service – we have to put pressure on them in this element since the very beginning. We did that today against Germany and it was the key to our win. If we repeat it tomorrow, we will have an advantage.”

Germany player Hanna Orthmann: “We were missing many serves, so it was difficult for us. Even if we won a point, we went to serve and made mistakes, giving away easy points to our opponents. We just made too many errors to keep up. We started this match very good, but errors on serve made us lose the first set. Then we kept playing like that in other sets, too. We didn’t play this match the way we can.”

Germany coach Felix Koslowski: “Everyone who was watching this game could see that our serve was not good enough for this level. We made eighteen errors in this element. If you play against a team like Thailand and have so many errors it gets difficult, because in addition they can receive the ball very well, as service is too easy. Thailand are a very experienced team, their players have competed at this level of competition for twelve years. On the other hand, for example, in our line-up in reception we had two players who normally play as opposites and they were never receiving during the season, our libero couldn’t find a club, so she didn’t play this season, so for them it’s very hard at the moment to get to the level. We want to use the VNL to grow and today we can find many things to improve on. We don’t have a lot of time before tomorrow’s game against Poland, but we will try to show a different face.”

Entering the tie in hope to finish second in the group behind Japan, the Kingdom’s shuttlers  looked in trouble when they found themselves fall behind Russia 1-2 from the men’s doubles, women’s singles and men’s singles matches.

Thailand got off to a dismal start when Kittinupong Kerdren and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet lost the opening rubber to Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov 11-21 21-19 15-21.

Thai star Ratchanok Intanon remedied the situation following a 21-7 21-16 win over Evgeniya Kosetskaya to level the tie to one all.

However, world No 18 Kantaphon Wangcharoen suffered a shock defeat to the 62^ndranked Vladimir Malkov 13-21 15-21 in the men’s singles , leaving Thailand with no choice but to win the two remaining matches.

Women’s doubles word No 9 Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai kept the Thai hope alive by defeating Ekaterina Bolotova 21-9 21-14 as the two nations were locked at 2 all.

In the end, Thailand reigned supreme when the mixed doubles pair outclassed Evgenij Dremin and Evgenia Dimova 21-10 21-11.

Thailand face Japan this afternoon in a battle for the group top spot. Win or lose, the two countries will proceed to the quarter-finals as the top finishers of the group.