Following a recent article published by ‘SportsIn’, it was reported that Charilaos Mariolis, the Greek official and candidate for the presidency of World Boxing, had been removed from his position as President of the Hellenic Boxing Federation – HBF – in connection with a criminal conviction considered final. According to that report, the decision was communicated by the Hellenic Boxing Coaches Association and subsequently ratified by the General Secretariat of Sports of the Greek government, with retroactive effect.
In response to that publication, Charilaos Mariolis has submitted an official statement to ‘SportsIn’ in which he rejects the existence of any legal or institutional impediment affecting his candidacy for World Boxing, as well as the existence of any current criminal conviction.
Institutional position expressed by Mariolis
In his statement, the official argues that the information previously reported does not reflect what he claims is the legal situation recorded in official documentation. Mariolis states that his criminal record is “completely clean” and that there is “no conviction, no charge and no pending legal proceedings of any kind” against him.
He notes that references to an alleged final conviction are, in his view, based on an incorrect interpretation of a case dating back several years. On this point, he states: “There is no final conviction and no legal impediment in force. My candidacy is fully valid under both Greek and international law.”
Background of the case and legal framework cited
In his declaration, Mariolis explains that the matter originated from a civil dispute initiated in 2008 and resolved in 2014, in which he says he was awarded compensation. He adds that a minor criminal decision connected to that case was subsequently expunged in accordance with Greek law and therefore does not appear in his current criminal record.
He further maintains that the Hellenic Boxing Coaches Association, cited as the initial source of the communication, “is not a recognised institutional body” and therefore “has no authority over matters relating to federation governance.”
Regarding his candidacy for the presidency of World Boxing, the official asserts that he meets all eligibility requirements established by the international organisation. Mariolis argues that the current controversy is linked to internal disputes within the Greek sporting environment, indicating that certain claims “may be influencing the atmosphere ahead of the electoral process.”
‘SportsIn’ position on verified information
‘SportsIn’ maintains the information previously published, based on official documentation reviewed and confirmed through administrative sources and institutional records. For reasons of data protection and legal security, this documentation will not be made public.
The editorial position of ‘SportsIn’ is limited to reporting the decisions adopted by the relevant authorities within the Greek sports system and their formal communication, without expressing value judgments regarding candidates or electoral processes.
Many questions arise from the current silence of World Boxing, which is monitoring the situation without reacting or expressing an official position on an issue that concerns the validity of its highest electoral process: the election of a new president. These questions also extend to the International Olympic Committee – IOC –, which, for reasons of transparency, chose World Boxing as a provisional member in place of the IBA and is supposed to be closely monitoring all electoral processes within the organisation.
