UAE’s Al Saffar vies for ABBF presidency

In an unprecedented development, four candidates have thrown their hat into the ring for the post of president at the annual elections to be held in July in South Korea.

The contenders are Hussain Al Saffar (UAE), Nasser Pour Alifard (Iran), Baba Madhok (India) and Douglas Latchford (Thailand), according to the secretary-general of ABBF Paul Chua.

“For the first time in the history of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation there is a contest for the leadership. This shows the Asian federation is very democratic and we hope the best candidate will win,” said Chua who was in UAE to lend his support to Al Saffar.

The stiffest competition for Al Saffar, who is the chairman of the ABBF technical committee, is expected to come from Alifard, a vice-president of the ABBF. Madhok is chairman of the ABBF judges committee while Latchford is an executive vice-president of the federation.

“There are 39 member countries who have got one vote each. Iran is canvassing aggressively, lobbying member countries for support. The UAE candidate is the youngest. We do not know whether they want young or old but let’s hope change comes true,” he said.

Singaporean Chua, who has been involved in the sport for nearly four decades, warned however that whoever is elected has got lot of work to do. “We are dealing with a young generation. Even in politics it’s changing. They want young leaders with bright ideas,” he noted.

Chua noted they planned to conduct more coaching clinics under the auspices of OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) and raise funds to support championships all over Asia especially in countries like Cambodia, Nepal and Bhutan.

“We want our anti-doping policy to be more transparent and our scoring system will also be changed,” he said promising an ipad revolution which will bring in more transparency.

“We need young judges with IT brains so we can promote the sport to a wider audience and make bodybuilding a popular and acceptable sport in the world,” said Chua endorsing Al Saffar as the most favoured candidate for the ABBF position.

“My support is for Hussain (Al Saffar). It doesnt mean I can change the mind of other countries. It all depends on what he can provide. They (members) want to see what he can do as a young man, how he can bring up the sport at the highest level. He is a very much known personality and has been in the sport for many years. But competition in my opinion is very healthy,” he said.

“Hopefully the Olympic Committee of UAE will support Hussain. I think he will stand a good chance because maybe people will like Dubai rather than Iran. I’m throwing my support but that doesn’t mean 100 per cent victory. He has the capability, knowledge and is acceptable in the community,” he added.

Hussain Al Saffar pledged to bring in tough measures and educate athletes to curb the doping menace afflicting the sport in addition to attracting major sponsors for bodybuilding tournaments.

General secretary of the UAE federation since 2001, Al Saffar played a key role in successfully organising the first ever World Championships conducted by the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBBF) in Dubai two years ago.

“For 50 years until now there are no major sponsors for the sport. I will try to get not only from UAE but also from other countries,” he said.

“I will also fight the drugs by bringing in tough rules. This is more important because people say it shows in the face of bodybuilders,” said Al Saffar, a former bodybuilder himself who qualified as an international judge in 2001.

Asked why aspired to become ABBF president, Al Saffar said he wanted to preserve UAE’s standing in the sport and continue to work begun by Osama Al Shafar.

He was confident of getting the backing of the country’s Olympic Committee and the Sports Authority to face an election against three candidates. “I have been in the ABBF for 10 years. I have good relations with many countries in Asia. I hope to get their support,” he said.

On whether he has time to devote for the sport, Al Saffar said: “When a person loves something they have the time to do it. I love bodybuilding. This is my life. I will find time to go anywhere to support bodybuilding.”

Little wonder he has served the sport for nearly three decades as competitor, official and administrator.