(Paris) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reiterated on Tuesday its “concerns” about the governance of the International Boxing Association (IBA), which remains suspended by the body pending a “radical change in culture “.
After a first letter sent last September, the IOC sent a new letter to the IBA to express its concerns, indicated Kit McConnel, director of sport of the IOC, during a press conference at the end of a meeting of its executive committee.
The IOC said it was concerned about the “governance” of the federation, “its financial transparency, its sustainability as well as the integrity of its refereeing and judging processes”.
“Several signals suggest that the radical change of culture requested by the IOC in order to be able to lift the suspension of recognition of the IBA has not taken place”, is it indicated in the letter.
“Consequently, the IOC is not in a position today to reconsider its position concerning the suspension of the recognition of the IBA”, adds the body.
For more than three years now, the IOC has suspended the IBA – at the time International Amateur Boxing Federation (AIBA) – depriving it in May 2019 of the organization of the boxing events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics before renewing the same decision last June for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Boxing, an Olympic sport since antiquity, is not currently on the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“If a decision were to be taken today regarding this edition of the Games, the IOC Executive Board would not be in a position to recommend to the Session that boxing be included in the sports program under the authority of the IBA” , warns the IOC, which will continue to follow the evolution of the practices of the body of boxing.
“Based on future developments, he will consider making a decision regarding IBA recognition in due course,” he said.