Staff Writer
Boxing’s governing organization, the IBA, lost the IOC’s recognition on Thursday, although the sport will still be featured on the schedule for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games in Paris and Los Angeles.
In a game-changing decision for the sport, the International Boxing Association (IBA) was expelled from the Olympic Movement by the IOC executive board by a vote of 69 to 1 with 10 abstentions.
The IOC’s decision ends four years of conflict between the governing body of the Olympics and the under fire keepers of a sport that has been a part of every Games since 1904.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 as a result of numerous corruption allegations.
Boxing’s governing organization, the IBA, lost the IOC’s recognition on Thursday, although the sport will still be featured on the schedule for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games in Paris and Los Angeles.
In a game-changing decision for the sport, the International Boxing Association (IBA) was expelled from the Olympic Movement by the IOC executive board by a vote of 69 to 1 with 10 abstentions.
The IOC’s decision ends four years of conflict between the governing body of the Olympics and the under fire keepers of a sport that has been a part of every Games since 1904.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 as a result of numerous corruption allegations.
Olympic spot is assured.
To guarantee qualification and hosting of the sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC established the “Paris Boxing Unit.”
De Kepper stated that he “guarantees” boxing will be included in the Los Angeles Games schedule for 2028.
IOC President Thomas Bach informed the audience that “we have an extremely serious problem with the IBA” just before introducing De Kepper.
“Boxing is not a problem for us. Boxers are not a problem for us, Bach added.
“There wouldn’t have been a competition in Tokyo if we had a boxing issue. Paris wouldn’t host any boxing matches.
“We highly value the sport of boxing, but regrettably, we have a very serious issue with the IBA because of their governance,” continued Bach.
We feel that boxers absolutely deserve to be administered by an international organization with integrity and openness since we regard the sport of boxing so highly.
Russian energy company Gazprom has been a significant supporter of the IBA in a contract estimated to be worth $50 million.
Despite last year’s invasion of Ukraine, the IBA, in contrast to many other international sports organizations, continues to permit athletes from Russia and its political ally Belarus to compete under their own flags.
Several countries boycotted the Women’s World Boxing Championships in India last month due to the IBA’s rule, but the competition nevertheless went on.
In the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics, boxing only proceeded after the IOC intervened to guarantee the qualification standards were met.
