London, UK: International Boxing Association (IBA) has been expelled from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to its failure to implement necessary reforms in governance, finance, and ethical matters. In a virtual extraordinary IOC Session, 69 members voted in favour of the expulsion, with only one vote against it, while ten members abstained from voting. The IOC’s decision comes after its executive board, chaired by IOC President Mr. Thomas Bach, recommended the banishment two weeks prior.

Although the IBA has been ousted, boxing will remain an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Games. During the online meeting, President Bach emphasized the IOC’s appreciation for boxing while expressing concerns about the IBA’s governance issues. The dispute primarily revolved around the IBA’s management under presidents from Uzbekistan and Russia, as well as financial support from Russian state energy firm Gazprom. The IOC also questioned the integrity of bouts and judging within the organization.

The IBA’s financial reliance on Gazprom, combined with its debts nearing $20 million, further raised objections from the IOC. Under President, Mr. Umar Kremlev, the IBA’s debts were cleared, and Mr. Kremlev announced the end of sponsorship from Gazprom last month. However, Mr. Kremlev’s rhetoric against Olympic officials grew confrontational. While the IOC oversees boxing competitions for the Paris Olympics without IBA involvement, it remains unclear if boxers representing national federations affiliated with the IBA will be eligible for the Paris competition.

With the IBA no longer part of the equation, the IOC can now collaborate with a newly established rival organization called World Boxing, which has gained support from officials in the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The IBA has the option to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Nevertheless, the IBA referred to the expulsion as a “tremendous error” and criticized the IOC for not acting in the best interests of boxing and athletes. The removal of the IBA allows the confirmation of boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic program, an assurance provided by the IOC during the meeting.

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