● From our sister site, TheSportsExaminer.com ●
There wasn’t much doubt of the outcome, but the International Olympic Committee made a clear statement against the International Boxing Association on Thursday by voting 69-1, with 10 abstentions, in favor of withdrawing recognition from the IBA as the governing body of boxing for the Olympic Games.
The IBA is out.
Thursday’s unusual 140th IOC Session, at which most of the members attended remotely, had 80 members present out of the 99 currently seated, or 81%. This constituted a valid quorum.
Beyond ex-communicating the IBA, the vote also gave Olympic boxing a major boost by (1) confirming its place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and (2) declaring that the IBA “should not organise the LA28 Olympic boxing tournament.”
IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) explained:
“To make it clear from the outset, we do not have a problem with the sport of boxing. We do not have a problem with the boxers. We appreciate boxing as one of the most global sports. We embrace the values of boxing, which are so evident in all countries, whether north or south, east or west, whether privileged or underprivileged.
“In all countries around the world, boxing plays an important social role, promoting inclusion and empowerment. We do not have a problem with the boxers. On the contrary, we appreciate the boxers for living these social values of their sport. If we would have a problem with the boxers, then there would not have been an Olympic competition in Tokyo. There would not have been qualifying events for Tokyo, because IBA was already suspended at that time.
“If we would have a problem with the boxers, then there would be no boxing competition in Paris. And no respective qualifying events, because the suspension of IBA is still in effect.
“We highly value the sport of boxing. But, unfortunately, as you have seen from the file – which you have already received and had a chance to study – you can see that we have an extremely serious problem with IBA, because of their governance.
“Because we value the sport of boxing so much, we believe that these athletes – the boxers – fully deserve to be governed by an International Federation with integrity and transparency. And this will be the focus of our discussions now.”
IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper (BEL) went even further in replying to questions from IOC members David Haggerty (USA) and Prince Albert (MON), stating:
“We can guarantee that boxing will be on the program in Paris and LA28, and I will ask Kit McConnell to explain to you a little the process and the technicalities.”
McConnell (NZL), the IOC’s Sports Director, detailed that the 2024 tournament will be run by the “Paris Boxing Unit,” which is modeled after the Tokyo 2020 tournament team, but with more independence from the IOC, and with refereeing and judging overseen by the international consulting firm, PWC.
The vote and de Kepper’s comments regarding 2028 removes one of the question marks for the Los Angeles organizers, still waiting for resolution on whether modern pentathlon and weightlifting will also be added back to the program. In the Los Angeles bid for 2028, the boxing venue was identified as one of the exhibition halls of the massive Los Angeles Convention Center in the downtown area.
¶
The IBA’s response was, as usual, vitriolic, including an astonishing reference to the Nazi invasion of the USSR in 1941, trying to frame Bach – a German – against the Russian president of the IBA, Umar Kemlev, in some sort of personal duel:
“Today, on 22 June 2023, the IOC has made a tremendous error by withdrawing its recognition of the IBA, revealing its true politicized nature. It is noteworthy that on this very day, 82 years ago, fascist Germany launched an attack on the peaceful citizens of the Soviet Union, resulting in the escalation of war and a devastating human tragedy. We cannot conceal the fact that today’s decision is catastrophic for global boxing and blatantly contradicts the IOC’s claims of acting in the best interests of boxing and athletes. …
“Although we have provided the IOC with all investigation reports, the IOC has failed to recognize the destructive actions of C.K. Wu, who led the International Boxing Association to bankruptcy, collapse, and corruption at all levels.”
The IBA then demanded the IOC respond to five questions, concerning Wu, why it has not responded to IBA in the way IBA finds acceptable, why it doesn’t pay prize money as IBA does, and this one:
“The IOC has not concluded the scandalous investigation related to the public information and sale of medals at the Olympic Games. Instead, they have chosen to suppress this information in the media.”
The bottom line for the IBA was expressed thus:
“It is evident to many that the IOC’s decision is not based on objective facts but on personal animosity and prejudice towards someone’s nationality. Such a stance categorically contradicts the Olympic Charter and the principles of non-discrimination.”
The conclusion, of course, promises an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport:
“Despite the challenges, the IBA remains committed to the development of boxing, the preservation of its independence, and the organization of official tournaments and World Boxing Championships at the highest level. We possess the legal right to do so, and we are prepared to defend it before any appropriate authority. Finally, we emphasize that we are fully open to dialogue and collaboration for the betterment of sports, athletes, coaches, and National Federations.”
¶
World Boxing, being organized as a possible new federation for boxing, issued a short statement that included:
“The IOC’s decision and the comments by its President make it clear that IBA will never again be allowed to organise a boxing tournament at the Olympic Games and that a new international federation – which is committed to delivering sporting integrity and operates according to the highest standards of governance, transparency and financial management – will inevitably be required to oversee future Olympic boxing tournaments.
“World Boxing supports this view and understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and is committed to working constructively and collaboratively with the IOC and all other stakeholders to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s long-term place on the Olympic programme.
“This is a hugely significant moment for the sport. All National Boxing Federations now have a critically important decision to make if they want boxers from their country to have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles and beyond and we urge every National Federation that cares about boxers and boxing to join and support World Boxing in its efforts to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”
~ Rich Perelman
Be the first to comment