IOC grants provisional recognition to governing body World Boxing

LAUSANNE, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee Executive Board on Wednesday provisionally recognized World Boxing as the International Federation within the Olympic Movement governing global boxing.

Boxing has been an Olympic sport since 1904, but due to issues related to governance, officiating and financial management, the IOC in 2019 suspended its recognition of the International Boxing Association, which had long served as the sport's governing body.

With no new governing body established for boxing after the IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA in June 2023, boxing has not yet been included as an event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics was run directly by the IOC.

"We have no problem with boxing. We have no problem with boxers. But we have big problems with the boxing governing body," IOC president Thomas Bach said at a news conference following the decision in October 2023.

Founded in April 2023, World Boxing currently comprises 78 member associations from five continents and has established four continental federations. Over half the boxers and medalists at Paris 2024 are affiliated with World Boxing member associations.

On May 7, 2024, World Boxing held its first official meeting with the IOC to begin collaborative planning for boxing's Olympic future. ■