At the Olympics in Tokyo, the IOC itself organizes the boxing competitions because the world association IBA is suspended. He accuses the International Olympic Committee of sharing responsibility for the abuses - and of using a "divide and conquer rhetoric".
In the fight for the Olympic future of boxing, the world association IBA defends itself against the criticism of the IOC and pushes part of the responsibility for the association's internal problems on to the ring organization in Lausanne. "We continue to be punished for a culture of corruption created and nurtured by some individuals from the senior ranks of the IOC," it said in a statement on Thursday.
The IBA named its ex-president Wu Ching-kuo by name. The official from Taiwan led the association from 2006 to 2017, during which time he was also a member, part of the executive and 2013 presidential candidate of the International Olympic Committee. In March 2020, Wu had left the IOC circle, officially for medical reasons.
The IOC presented a letter on Tuesday in which the Exko described its concerns about the IBA and the national boxing associations. "If a decision regarding the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games had to be made today, the IOC Executive Board could not recommend the IOC Session to include boxing under the supervision of the IBA," the letter said.
In Lausanne, an IBA delegation led by former superstar Roy Jones jr. protested in front of the meeting building. "No boxing without IBA" and "No Olympics without boxing" read placards showing the demonstrators. Boxing will still be on the program at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but the competitions, like in Tokyo in 2021, will be organized by the IOC itself. The IBA (formerly AIBA) has been suspended since 2019.
The IBA said it would take time to come to terms with the Wu era and the failings in leadership, finance and refereeing. "If you analyze the source of all the problems of the past, it becomes clear that the IOC member Wu CK caused these problems in the boxing governing body." For the past two years, the IBA has been trying to "clean up the house and bring boxing back to the greatness it deserves."
"We will not accept the artificial 'divide and rule' rhetoric," the world association continued. He will not accept “that the IBA and the athletes are separated”, any attack on the IBA is “a direct attack on the stakeholders of our sport, on the athletes. Sanctions against the IBA are sanctions against their boxers because we are inseparable ."
In September, the IBA delegates at the extraordinary congress in Yerevan/Armenia voted against new elections and thus confirmed the Russian Umar Kremlev in office under chaotic circumstances. In addition, the Ukrainian boxing association was suspended shortly before the IBA Congress for controversial reasons.
