Boxing Association knocks out VP

BOXING
The Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) has dismissed its Vice President Dirang Thipe from its executive committee. Thipe has been under suspension for the past five months following litany of charges over his conduct within the amateur boxing body.Thipe’s suspension comes after the BoBA Disciplinary Committee met and deliberated on the matter late last month.

Among some of the four charges that Thipe was facing included cancelling the Botswana National team trip to Poland earlier this year.” Between 20th and 25th February in Maputo, Mozambique   you (Thipe) acted   contrary to the   duties of the vice president and manager of the Botswana Boxing National team and exceeded your authority as well as a mandate by proceeding to coach boxing athletes,” reads a statement released by BoBA this week.

The statement continues, “On or about 20th May you (Thipe) published or caused to be published articles on Sunday Standard newspaper which is circulated in Botswana where you undermined the authority of the association and brought its name into disrepute.” The BoBA DC further accused Thipe of collecting P1000 for renting a boxing ring and later   failed to return the funds despite numerous requests   from the Association.

According to BoBA, Thipe only managed to return the said funds four months later. After deliberating over the matter, the BoBA DC recommended that Thipe be removed from his position as vice president as well as an executive committee member of BoBA. “The BoBA executive committee also convened on the same date (11th August) and endorsed the DC recommendations. Thipe has the right to appeal through the BNSC rules and regulations. In an interview with BG sport this week, Thipe said that he will appeal the BoBA DC decision after seeking legal advice on the matter.

 “It is only the BoBA affiliates who can dismiss me from the executive committee because they have voted for me. I am still the BoBA Vice president until I decide to resign or the affiliates don’t want me,” Thipe said in an interview this week.

Thipe further alleged that the BoBA executive committee that suspended him a few months back did not form a quorum. Furthermore, Thipe who has served as VP technical and Secretary General in previous BoBA executive committees alleged that the BoBA DC that removed him from the Association did not comprise the boxing body’s legal adviser.