MALAYSIAN Athletics Federation (MAF) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim has challenged his critics to come forward and take him on for the top post instead of relying on poison pen letters and the social media to smear his name.
A Facebook page was created to fry three-term president Karim before it was deleted immediately.
“I have no fear of any challengers provided he or she comes with a proper background and can help the sport. If you are using social media as a tool for a smear campaign against me, then stay out of the presidential race,” said Karim yesterday.
The MAF elections will be on June 30 and the deadline for nominations is June 17.
Among others, a poison pen letter claimed Karim was a dictator who does not consult his board before making crucial decisions.
“I have the right to appoint a general manager as well as other staff, and that should not be made into an election issue.
“Challenge me with credentials and show how you can help athletics in the country, and then put in your nomination papers to contest.
“I am no stranger to elections and have seen them all, locally and internationally,” said Karim.
He also claimed the presidency comes with no perks or salary.
“I am a volunteer in MAF and nobody pays my salary, including the government. So, let the MAF council decide if they want me or not,” he said. “Up to now, the affiliates seem to like me very much. Who doesn’t like Karim?”
Karim is no stranger to controversies. There were calls early this year for him to resign from MAF after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) removed him from their council in May last year.
He had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against IAAF’s decision, but it was dismissed.
Reports had linked his removal to a documentary by German public broadcaster ARD in 2016, accusing him of covering up doping practices in Malaysia.
The then Malaysian Athletics Union banned Karim for six years in 2012 for allegedly assisting six national athletes who had refused to undergo doping tests by the National Sports Institute (NSI) in 2011.
Karim took the matter to court in Kuala Lumpur which annulled the MAU decision, and he was elected MAF president at the end of 2014.
“I still have a good relationship with IAAF as well as my affiliates, so let’s play a fair game if one wants to grab my chair,” he added.