From the Singapore Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation
For almost 30 years, he was its president. After he stepped down in 2007, he was made honorary life president. Last Saturday, Paul Chua's 35-year association with the Singapore Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (SBBF) came to an abrupt end. That was after the SBBF's executive committee (exco) passed a resolution to remove Chua as honorary life president and adviser.
SBBF general secretary Shawn Sugendran told The New Paper that the resolution was passed by five of seven exco members. The SBBF has been under a cloud of controversy since its president, Rano Izhar, was exposed as an undischarged bankrupt by The Straits Times last month. At that time, Chua was quoted saying that Rano (right), who had not informed officials of his insolvency status before his election in June 2011, would be "kicked out" if he "didn't resign gracefully". After the report, Rano offered to resign from his post. However, his exco asked him to stay on until after the SBBF National Championships on July 1.
Later, TNP reported that the SBBF constitution had no article or section prohibiting bankrupts from holding office. Said Sugendran: "It was never true that Rano would be officially removed. "As I've said before, Paul is not an official spokesman for SBBF. So I don't know in what capacity he was speaking. "As for the honorary life presidency, it's an appointed position, not an elected one. "The exco members reserve the right to remove anyone from that position if the reasons are valid."
Rano said the decision to remove Chua was a collective one, and in line with the restructuring of the sport. Said Rano: "We have no agenda against Paul. Our focus is to rejuvenate the sport of bodybuilding and take it forward. "We feel that Paul is a hindrance towards that aim. "This (decision) has nothing to do with power. We have to remind ourselves that, in the future, another team will have to take over the SBBF, and we have to trust and let them do that.
"As for my position as president, I will leave if the industry and its athletes want me to, but not because Paul Chua wants me to." To replace Chua, Sugendran said that the SBBF plans to invite former president, Dr Chiam Tut Fu, to act as an official adviser. "Dr Chiam is someone who is of high value to us," Sugendran said. "In a short time, he has contributed a lot, especially with enhancing our relationships with government authorities such as the Singapore Sports Council. "But, as of now, nothing is confirmed yet."
The SBBF plans to reaffliate itself with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) on July 1. It has also started discussions regarding a potential merger with the Singapore Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (SFBF) - a competing organisation. Said Sugendran: "We're doing all this for the betterment and progression of the sport. "We are very pleased that the IFBB, which is the largest federation for the sport, has accepted us back. "The SBBF was once a part of it when we began, but we broke away sometime in 2009." The SBBF has also decided to keep Rano as its president for the next four months.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20120625-355281.html
