Chua Removed from SBBF Post
June 27, 2012
Paul Chua’s 35-year association with the Singapore Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (SBBF) ended after the body’s executive committee (exco) removed Chua as honorary life president and adviser.
SBBF general secretary Shawn Sugendran said the resolution was passed by five of seven exco members.
The SBBF has faced a great deal of controversy since its president, Rano Izhar, was exposed as an undischarged bankrupt.
Chua reportedly said Rano, who did not disclose insolvency status before his election, 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 remain until after the SBBF National Championships on July 1.
Sugendran said: “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 from his position was because of the SBBF’s desire to restructure the sport.
Rano said: “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 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.”
Sugendran said the SBBF would invite former president, Dr Chiam Tut Fu, to act as an official adviser to replace Chua.
“Dr Chiam is someone who is of high value to us,” he 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.