IOC raises prospect of boxing being banned from Paris 2024 Olympics as it lays out IBA concerns | box news
IOC raises prospect of boxing being banned from Paris 2024 Olympics as it lays out IBA concerns | box news
#IOC #raises #prospect #boxing #banned #Paris #Olympics #lays #IBA #concerns #box #news Welcome to InNewCL, here is the new story we have for you today:
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The International Olympic Committee has raised the possibility of excluding boxing from the Paris 2024 Games, saying its Russian-led world body has shown it has “no real interest” in the sport or its athletes.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has been stripped of its participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and boxing is not on the original schedule for the Los Angeles 2028 games pending reforms called for by the IOC.
Qualifying for the Paris 2024 boxing tournament is being organized by the IOC, but it said concerns about the IBA mean it will take further decisions that “may have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Paris 2024 Olympics”.
An IOC spokesman said: “The recent IBA Congress showed once again that the IBA has no real interest in boxing and boxers, only interested in its own power.
“The decisions and discussions to keep boxers out of Olympic qualification and the Olympics cannot be understood otherwise.”
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WBO Cruiserweight Champion Lawrence Okolie is set to return after almost a year without boxing, the heavy puncher from Hackney is set to defend his WBO Cruiserweight Title live on InNewCL Sports in the UK in early 2023.
The IBA is run by the Russian Umar Kremlev with support from the Russian energy company Gazprom. The IOC spokesman said the IBA, which recently renewed its contract with Gazprom, has shown it has “no will to understand the real issues”.
“The extension of the sponsorship deal with Gazprom as the sole main sponsor of the IBA reinforces the concerns that the IOC has repeatedly expressed since 2019,” the spokesman added.
“This announcement confirms that IBA will remain dependent on a company largely controlled by the Russian government.”
An Extraordinary IBA Congress in September voted against holding a new election, allowing Kremlev to remain as President, after a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Dutch candidate Boris van der Vorst had been wrongly barred from standing.
The spokesman said the IOC’s concerns included the handling of the CAS decision.
“All of this will need to be considered by the IOC when making further decisions which – following these latest developments – may have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Paris 2024 Olympics.”
Earlier this month, the IBA accused Olympic organizers of “persecution” in response to their suspension over governance and financial issues.
