(ATR) The international boxing federation has suspended its secretary general over the possibility he embezzled AIBA funds, while an internal audit indicates thievery of federation money was widespread.

Caner Doganeli (l) with Anwar Chowdhry shortly before the election that deposed Chowdhry after 24 years in office. (ATR)

(ATR) The international boxing federation has suspended its secretary general over the possibility he embezzled AIBA funds, while an internal audit indicates thievery of federation money was widespread.

Caner Doganeli was informed last week of his suspension as secretary general after the audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers suggested money was flowing to his office in Turkey from AIBA accounts without proper authorization.

No amount is given in the audit executive summary, but the figure could be in excess of $100,000.

Doganeli was present at the Feb. 9 AIBA executive committee meeting during the findings of the auditor were presented. On Feb. 12, the AIBA Ethics Commission recommended that Doganeli be suspended. He was re-elected to a second term as secretary general at the AIBA Congress in November.

An even larger scandal may unfold over money the auditors say was improperly paid to or unaccounted for by former AIBA president Anwar Chowdhry.

The figure is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and could top seven figures.

Apparently neither Doganeli or Chowdhry were in cahoots on this, with the audit noting a lack of financial controls allowed AIBA money to be taken without approvals.

Another shocker: the audit says the former assistant to the chairman of the AIBA Business Committee used a federation credit card to run up tens of thousands of euros gambling. While no name is given in the audit, the person who last held the post is Oleg Vorontsov, the Olympic ticket agent and memorabilia collector now in jail in Spain as part of an organized crime investigation.

Two weeks ago, vice president Eduard Khusainov was suspended over suspicions of a criminal past that may be a case of mistaken identity. The case is being considered by the AIBA ethics panel.

Moscow Deadline for World Championship Guarantee

Although AIBA re-confirmed Moscow as the choice of the 2007 World Championships at the Feb. 9 executive committee, nothing is certain until AIBA receives a letter of credit covering the $1.5 million guarantee offered by the city of Moscow.

Deadline for AIBA to receive the letter of credit is Feb. 24, while a host city agreement is due a few days later. When Moscow was awarded the world championship last July, no paperwork was exchanged between AIBA and Moscow, leaving the new administration of President C.K. Wu the task of quickly cobbling together the agreements needed for the tournament to go forward. The event is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 30.

If Moscow fails to meet the Feb. 24 deadline, AIBA has the option to send the world championships to Jeju, South Korea.

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