The ongoing investigation into the tragic death of boxer Ubayd Haider is continuing as the Board of Inquiry reaches out to the remaining stakeholders. Currently, five individuals, including prominent South Pacific Boxing promoter Fredy Chand, have yet to be interviewed in connection with the incident.
Edwin Wainiqolo, the chairman of the Board of Inquiry, announced that interviews have been completed with 12 of the 17 involved parties from the boxing event held in Nadi. Chand has secured legal representation for the investigation, which has contributed to the process taking longer than the initially planned 30 days. Due to this development, the inquiry deadline has been extended by an additional week.
Wainiqolo emphasized that they need to coordinate with Chand’s legal counsel to set a suitable interview date. The inquiry aims to gather a comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to Haider’s unfortunate passing on November 10, particularly following his collapse after competing against China’s Runqi Zhou.
The chairman expressed that even if interviews with Chand and the remaining stakeholders do not occur by the new deadline, the Board intends to submit their findings based on the evidence collected thus far. This report will be submitted to the Minister for Sports, Jese Saukuru, for further action.
As the inquiry continues, it’s crucial to prioritize transparency and accountability in the sport, fostering an environment where the health and safety of all participants is the main focus. The hope remains that the findings of this investigation will lead to improvements in health protocols within boxing events, ensuring that such tragedies do not recur in the future.
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