IOC warns boxing could be dropped from Olympics

  • 05/02/2018
Boxing could lose its place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Boxing could lose its place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo credit: Getty Images

Boxing could lose its place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics amid International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerns over the governance of amateur boxing's world governing body AIBA.    

IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters in Pyeongchang on Sunday the IOC was "extremely worried about the governance" of AIBA and "reserves the right to refuse boxing" in the programme for Tokyo and the 2018 youth Games in Buenos Aires in October.             

Kiwi David Nyika plans to fight at the 2020 Olympics.
Kiwi David Nyika plans to fight at the 2020 Olympics. Photo credit: Getty Images

Bach said AIBA had failed to clarify internal decision-making procedures and the way its new president had been installed, as well issues surrounding its finances, refereeing and anti-doping.        

A statement by the IOC's executive board following a meeting in Pyeongchang Monday ahead of the Winter Games said it was maintaining a financial suspension imposed in December.  

The IOC chief ethics and compliance officer has opened an investigation into AIBA's governance, while the IOC is freezing all contacts with AIBA except ones at a working level. AIBA is asked to provide a further report by April 30.          

Bach also indicated the IOC had concerns about the judging at the 2016 Rio Games and was not satisfied with an AIBA report dismissing the concerns.

"From the fact that refereeing is part of the decision we already took in December last year and we were requesting more information, you can conclude we're still looking into this issue. We want to see that this report really does reflect the reality," he said.

DPA