The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is on the hunt for a new governing body for Olympic boxing as it aims to secure the sport's position in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This decision follows the IOC's move to remove the International Boxing Association (IBA) from its role in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and the upcoming Paris Games, marking a significant shift in the governance of Olympic boxing.
Disqualification of IBA
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has recently upheld the IOC's decision to de-recognize the IBA, a move that directly impacts the association's role in Olympic boxing. The IOC's primary concerns with the IBA stem from its Russian leadership's use of threatening language, which has raised significant governance issues. As a consequence, the IOC is actively seeking a reliable International Federation to partner with by early 2025, to ensure boxing's continuity in the Olympics.
New Prospects for Olympic Boxing
In response to this unprecedented situation, World Boxing, a new faction comprised of representatives from 27 countries, has emerged. This group has begun organizing tournaments and is intent on securing boxing's place in the Olympic movement. World Boxing positions itself as a viable alternative to the IBA, actively rallying support to guarantee that boxing remains a staple Olympic sport.
IBA's Response
The IBA, on the other hand, is considering appealing the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to the Swiss Supreme Court. The organization claims that its recent reform efforts have been largely ignored, suggesting a biased stance against them. These efforts were part of a broader initiative to address the governance issues cited by the IOC but have evidently fallen short of the Committee's expectations.
Statements from the Organizations
An IOC representative emphasized boxing's universal appeal and social inclusivity, stating, "Because of the universality and high social inclusivity of boxing, the IOC wants it to continue to feature on the program of the Olympic Games." However, they also highlighted the urgent need for a recognized and reliable International Federation, without which boxing's future in the 2028 Los Angeles Games remains uncertain: "Unfortunately, this is far from certain for the Olympic Games LA 2028 because, for governance reasons, the IOC is not in a position to organize another Olympic boxing tournament," the IOC noted.
World Boxing has expressed the critical nature of the situation and the pressing timeline, urging stakeholders in the boxing community to join their cause: "This is an urgent situation and the clock is ticking," they commented. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of collective effort to secure boxing's Olympic future: "We urge every one of them that cares about boxers and the future of the sport to apply to join and support World Boxing in its efforts to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement before it is too late."
The IBA, feeling overlooked, remarked on the dismissal of their reform efforts: "The IBA feels that disregarding these and other improvements suggests a biased view," indicating a sense of injustice over the de-recognition process.
Conclusion
As the IOC searches for a new governing body to oversee Olympic boxing, the future of the sport in the Olympic Games remains in a state of flux. The emergence of World Boxing as a potential governing entity offers hope for the continuity of boxing in the Olympics. However, the decision by the IOC will be crucial in determining the sport's fate in the 2028 Los Angeles Games and beyond. The ongoing dispute with the IBA highlights the complex nature of sports governance and the need for transparency, fairness, and effective leadership to secure the long-term health and integrity of Olympic boxing.
