Gafur Rakhimov is the latest to join that particular club. The interim President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has stepped up his insistence of late that he is committed to ensuring the sport has a bright future and only has the organisation’s best interests at heart.

This at a time where the warnings from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning his potential candidacy for the job on a full-time basis amid his links to alleged organised crime have gone from implicit guidance to an explicit ultimatum; stand for President and boxing’s hopes of retaining its place on the Tokyo 2020 programme are in great jeopardy.

Ever since Rakhimov, described by the United States Treasury Department as "one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals", seized caretaker power in January of this year, the IOC have been privately nudging him in the direction of stepping aside before a permanent President is chosen at a crucial Congress in Moscow in November.

Thomas Bach gave a clear indication of the IOC’s position on Rakhimov becoming President when he said boxing’s Olympic future "greatly depends" on the outcome of the Congress in Russian capital following an Executive Board meeting in July.

You did not need to be Sherlock Holmes to realise that was directed at the controversial Uzbek. While Bach, ever the politician, declined to go much further than that, he did not need to. The message had been sent.

Fast forward a month or so and IOC chief ethics and compliance officer Päquerette Girard Zappelli told Rakhimov in a letter in no uncertain terms that his candidacy for AIBA President puts boxing’s place at the Games in serious doubt.

In the letter, dated August 31, Zappelli says it will be "crucial in the best interests of boxing within the Olympic Movement that only candidates benefiting from a full clean situation can stand for the President's position".

The “full clean situation” is not something Rakhimov currently possesses. He remains on the US Treasury’s sanctions list under six different identities including the "Gafur Rakhimov" name in connection with his alleged links to a notorious international criminal network known as "thieves-in-law" and has so far failed in his attempts to remove himself from it.

Following the letter being made public by insidethegames, Rakhimov, who denies any wrongdoing, demonstrated a trait he does have - defiance.

In a lengthy statement aimed at an AIBA membership which could still elect him as President despite the threat from the IOC, the Uzbek claimed the federations "do not need to be told by anybody for whom they should vote or not vote” and stressed how the governing body would "make our choices based on what we - and only we - think will be the best for boxing worldwide".

Ironically for Rakhimov, the best choice for AIBA come election day would be to choose an alternative candidate to preserve boxing’s spot on the hallowed Olympic Games programme.

AIBA executive vice-president Franco Falcinelli is an official who realises this. In a letter sent earlier this week, the Italian urged the Executive Committee to join him in supporting Kazakhstan’s Serik Konakbayev rather than Rakhimov.

"For me, the time has come for our choices and decisions for the future of our sport and AIBA," the Italian wrote.

"We must ensure a bright and concrete future with the Olympic Movement for the sake of our boxers.

"Considering all situations, I decided not to be one of the causes of boxing to be excluded from the Olympic Games, also I believe all of you have the same principles.

"We are in a choice between the great risk of supporting Mr Gafur or promoting an alternative to lead AIBA.

"Thus, I decided to help Mr Serik Konakbayev to be eligible to run for the Presidency of AIBA."

Falcinelli is considered an ally of Rakhimov having allowed him to take over as interim President but he appreciates the gravity of the situation. He accepts that, allegiances aside, the Uzbek assuming the role in Moscow would have drastic consequences for the sport.

The letter from the Italian could be interpreted in different ways, however. It may be yet more proof that the pressure from the IOC is paying off or it could be seen as a late push by Falcinelli to drum up backing for a candidate who may have been lacking the required support.

Each official interested in running for the top job at AIBA must be supported by 20 Member Federations, and there are suggestions in some circles that Konakbayev, the head of the Asian Boxing Confederation, could have fallen short.

Konakbayev is currently the only confirmed candidate, with Rakhimov remaining silent on his own plans, although it is still widely expected his name will be on the ballot sheet.

Rakhimov’s statement released earlier this month may have claimed AIBA "will not be influenced by any rumours floating around in emails or news on various sports websites" but it also contained a line or two which hinted that he does see which way the wind is blowing.

"For over 20 years AIBA has been my life and I would like you all to rest assured that I would never in any way, shape or form put our wonderful sport in jeopardy," he wrote.

"I have always put boxing first and I intend to do that in the future."

Was that an admission that he realises his candidacy would not be in the best interests of AIBA? Or was it yet another snub to the IOC, who ultimately hold boxing’s Olympic destiny in their hands?

While the exact make-up of the Presidential race is uncertain, what seems definite is that the AIBA electorate will have a limited field to choose from.

Eligible officials such as vice-president Osvaldo Bisbal, who heads up the continental body representing the Americas, have already announced their intention not to stand, while Falcinelli throwing his support and influence behind Konakbayev effectively rules him out of contention.

At this stage, and with the list of candidates not due to be revealed until October 3, every scenario remains possible.

In direct contradiction to the wishes of the IOC, Rakhimov could find himself standing unopposed. Equally, the Uzbek could heed the warnings from the IOC and withdraw.

Those who are desperate to see boxing remain a staple of the Olympic programme will be hoping it is the latter.