The crisis within AIBA is set to be the main talking point at the IOC Executive Board meeting this week ©IOC

An ongoing inquiry into the International Boxing Association (AIBA) reaches a key milestone this week as the first findings are set to be presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board when it holds its latest meeting here.

An interim report from the Inquiry Committee, led by Executive Board member Nenad Lalovic, is the main item on the agenda and is due to be discussed on Thursday (March 28).

The outcomes of the investigation, launched by the IOC amid concerns over AIBA's governance, financial management and integrity of its competitions, could lead to the embattled governing body being stripped of the right to organise the Olympic boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020.

The full findings are due to be given to the Executive Board prior the Session in Lausanne in June.

The IOC Executive Board has the power to put forward a recommendation to the Session but, under the Olympic Charter, the membership has the final say on the possible suspension of AIBA.

The latest Executive Board meeting, which begins tomorrow and concludes on Thursday (March 28), comes less than a week after AIBA President Gafur Rakhimov declared his intention to step down.

Rakhimov's election is among the IOC's main issues with AIBA owing to him remaining on a United States Treasury Department sanctions list as "one of Uzbekistan's leading criminals".

insidethegames exclusively revealed last week that the 67-year-old, who denies any wrongdoing, is set to be replaced by African Boxing Confederation head Mohamed Moustahsane.

Moustahsane will become the Interim President but it is possible Rakhimov could return once the IOC probe has finished or if he is cleared of wrongdoing.

The IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne comes just days after Gafur Rakhimov decided to step aside as AIBA President ©AIBA
The IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne comes just days after Gafur Rakhimov decided to step aside as AIBA President ©AIBA

Rakhimov and AIBA are hopeful his decision to step down, even if it proves a temporary move, will appease the IOC.

The IOC has insisted, however, that the inquiry was not solely focused on Rakhimov.

AIBA was dealt a further blow today with the publication of a report by French newspaper Le Monde and Bulgaria Today, which cast further doubt on the integrity of the boxing competition at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The report alleged former AIBA executive director Karim Bouzidi is still working for Rakhimov, despite allegations he manipulated bouts at Rio 2016.

It also claimed an internal AIBA probe, led by current executive director Tom Virgets, who was appointed by Rakhimov, found there had been "strong suspicion surrounding Karim Bouzidi and the five-stars referees and judges".

The AIBA investigation, which was never published, reportedly did not accuse Bouzidi of manipulating the tournament due to a lack of evidence.

It did, however, reportedly "uncover evidence that the executive director used his authority to get referee and judges changes made in some bouts".

The crisis with AIBA is likely to be the headline item on the agenda this week but other topics which will be discussed include the Paris 2024 sports programme and an update on progress made by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

Breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing were proposed as additional sports for Paris 2024 by the Organising Committee last month.

All were given the green light by the IOC Programme Commission and the group's recommendation will be put to the Executive Board for consideration.

Federations representing sports which failed with a bid to be part of the programme have questioned the additional sports process for the 2024 Olympic Games in the French capital, with some claiming it is unfair they were not given the chance to showcase themselves first at Tokyo 2020.

The IWF will be hoping for positive news this week as weightlifting's place at Paris 2024, which remains conditional owing to concerns over anti-doping, will also be assessed.

The Executive Board will consider a recommendation from the Programme Commission on the four sports proposed for Paris 2024 inclusion ©Getty Images
The Executive Board will consider a recommendation from the Programme Commission on the four sports proposed for Paris 2024 inclusion ©Getty Images

The IOC Executive Board said the IWF had made very strong progress towards securing its spot on the programme for Paris 2024 when it last met in Tokyo in November.

But the IOC decided to maintain the conditional status of the sport.

The situation with weightlifting is likely to come up when the IOC Executive Board hears a report on its Summer Olympic International Federations tomorrow.

Progress reports on upcoming Olympic Games, including Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, will also be presented to the IOC Executive Board.

Other topics include anti-doping, ethics and National Olympic Committees.