The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has refuted the recent ‘misleading’ reports regarding national boxer Zohaib Rasheed, clarifying that Rasheed traveled abroad using a blue passport and addressing various inaccuracies. PBF Secretary General Col (retd) Nasir Tung issued a statement refuting the reports, affirming Rasheed’s credentials as a distinguished athlete who has competed in five international events, won a medal at an Asian competition, and was selected for the Olympic Games qualifying round. Tung detailed that Rasheed’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Olympic qualifiers was granted by his department.

He explained that Rasheed opted to stay abroad due to financial constraints, a personal choice he had already discussed publicly. The PBF official also criticized the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for not providing financial support for the boxers’ training and Olympic qualifiers, questioning the lack of adequate backing for athletes. Furthermore, the PBF dismissed rumors of a ban by the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry as “untrue, baseless, and absurd,” reaffirming their commitment to supporting the national boxing team.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan