Boxing is closer to securing its place in the Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board suggested on Monday that boxing should be part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The sport was previously removed from the Olympic program due to scandals involving officiating, corruption allegations, and a lack of financial transparency.
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Boxing’s former governing body, the IBA, led by Russia, was expelled from the Olympic movement because it failed to reform. The IOC organized the boxing events at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics but declined to do so again.
This situation put boxing at risk of being permanently excluded from the Olympics, until World Boxing, a new organization, was established to replace IBA and seek Olympic recognition.
The IOC recognized World Boxing as the new governing body last month. Now, the IOC Executive Board has proposed including boxing in the LA 2028 Olympic Games to the IOC Session.
The IOC Session will vote on the Executive Board’s proposal this week. If approved, boxing will be included in the LA 2028 competition program.
IOC President Thomas Bach stated at a press conference, ‘Following the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February, we were able to make this decision, and this recommendation will be presented to the session.’
‘I am very optimistic that the session will approve it, ensuring that boxers worldwide can participate in the LA 2028 Olympic Games if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing.’
World Boxing president, Boris van der Vorst, commented, ‘This is a very important decision for Olympic boxing, bringing the sport closer to being reinstated in the Olympic program.’
‘I believe this will be welcomed by everyone involved in boxing globally, who understand the importance of boxing remaining in the Olympic movement for the sport’s future.’
‘On behalf of World Boxing, I thank the IOC EB for their trust in our organization and hope for a positive outcome at this week’s IOC Session.’
‘World Boxing understands that Olympic inclusion is a privilege, not a right. We assure the IOC that if boxing is reinstated for LA28, World Boxing is fully committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner, upholding the Olympic Charter’s values.’
IBA criticizes ‘fake news campaign’
Since its suspension, the IBA and its Russian president, Umar Kremlev, have been in conflict with the IOC, particularly regarding eligibility rules for women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics.
Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, gold medalists at Paris 2024, were central to a dispute about gender eligibility that overshadowed the Games’ boxing tournament.
Bach told Reuters, ‘I would not consider the Paris Games gender row a real crisis because this discussion is based on a fake news campaign from Russia.’
‘This was among many fake news campaigns from Russia before and after Paris.’
‘The dispute is unreal. These two female athletes were born and raised as women, competing and experiencing wins and losses like everyone else.’
