IOC sends another letter of concern to IBA
The various concerns of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) around the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s governance, its financial transparency and sustainability, and the integrity of its refereeing and judging processes are still ongoing.
As a consequence, the IOC Executive Board (EB) has sent another letter listing its concerns to IBA, following the one delivered in September 2022, informing it that the drastic change of culture requested by the IOC in order to lift the suspension of IBA’s recognition has not been implemented.
As a result, the IOC is not in a position today to reverse its stance with regard to the suspension of IBA’s recognition.
This letter, which can be read below, was shared with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and national boxing federations.
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The IOC has been monitoring the activities of the International Boxing Association (IBA) for several years now and is periodically considering whether the suspension of its recognition by the IOC could be lifted. The issue is not about the sport of boxing or boxers, but IBA and its practices and activities. While some indications concerning the reorganisation of the administration of boxing were received, there are multiple signals that the drastic change of culture requested by the IOC in order to lift the suspension of IBA’s recognition has not been implemented. As a result, the IOC is not in a position today to reverse its stance with regard to the suspension of IBA’s recognition.
During the years of monitoring, the IOC has been acting in the best interests of the boxing community (including athletes, coaches, judges, referees). This is why the Olympic boxing tournament could take place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 while the recognition of IBA was suspended.
As boxing is planned to feature in the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, simultaneously with this letter the IOC will share the qualification criteria for these Olympic Games with the boxing community. The qualification criteria for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 build on the criteria that were developed for and successfully applied to the satisfaction of the participants in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Boxing is currently not included in the initial sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. If a decision had to be taken today regarding the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the IOC EB would not be able to recommend the IOC Session to include boxing in the sports programme under the authority of the IBA as IBA has not demonstrated that it has successfully addressed the ongoing concerns around its governance, its financial transparency and sustainability and the integrity of its refereeing and judging processes.
The IOC will continue to monitor the evolution of IBA’s practices and activities as well as of the boxing community at large, and, on the basis of the developments, will consider taking a decision regarding IBA’s recognition at the appropriate time.
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