The sport of boxing is facing changes. © ANSA / DARREN ENGLAND

A knockout for the boxing association

Now it's a done deal: The IOC is withdrawing recognition from the World Boxing Association Iba. This means that Olympic boxing is facing changes.

June 22, 2023

From: dpa

The controversial world boxing association Iba has received the Olympic knock-out. The International Olympic Committee decided on the final exclusion of the scandalous association, which many observers expected. “We have no problem with the boxers,” affirmed IOC President Thomas Bach before the vote on Thursday in Lausanne, adding: “We have a serious problem with the Iba because of its leadership.” 69 IOC members voted at an extraordinary meeting for the exclusion, there was only one dissenting vote.

Iba has been suspended by the IOC since 2019. From the perspective of its critics, it represents corruption, leadership problems and distortion of competition. IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper hit out at the federation at the IOC special meeting, saying Iba had been unable to create the conditions for an end to its suspension.

This means that boxing is without an Olympic association for the time being. But a rival association called World Boxing is already ready. The sport will retain its Olympic status for the time being. The boxers deserved to be led by a world association with integrity and transparency, said Bach.