PSB imposes ban on PBF high-ups after Pakistani boxers ‘slipped away’

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has imposed a lifetime ban on Khalid Mehmood, president of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), and secretary Col (retd) Nasir Ijaz Tung. This decision came after three Pakistani boxers went missing over the last two years during international events.

In 2022, boxers Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah Khan disappeared in Birmingham following the Commonwealth Games. More recently, in March 2023, Asian bronze medalist Zohaib Rasheed went missing in Italy during the World Qualifying round for the Paris Olympics.

The repeated incidents led the PSB to investigate the role of PBF officials. A committee, formed by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), recommended lifetime bans for both Mehmood and Ijaz due to negligence and mismanagement. Additionally, the case has been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The Board of Governors of the PSB accepted the committee’s recommendations, effectively barring both officials from holding any future positions in national sports federations. Khalid Mehmood also serves as the Secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).

In response, Nasir Tung called the decision illegal and announced plans to challenge the lifetime ban in court.