IOC approves new qualification system for boxing in the lead up to Paris 2024

Due to ongoing concerns raised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, boxing is still facing an uphill battle to be included on the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

As the International Boxing Association (IBA) has already been stripped of the right to host qualification events and competitions, the IOC has approved a new qualification system that will be implemented for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the new qualification system is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of National Olympic Committee (NOC) regional multi-sport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments,” the IOC stated after the Executive Board meeting on Thursday.

The qualification tournaments will be part of multi-sport events, where “the responsibility for the boxing competitions in the events will therefore not lie with the IBA, and alternative arrangements will be put in place with the respective event organizers,” the IOC said.

As a result, the IOC has decided to make the Asian Games and the Pacific Games as qualifying events for Paris 2024.

Likewise the 2023 Pan American Games - set to take place in Santiago, Chile, as well as the 2023 European Games in Poland, will also be designated as qualifying competitions.

The IOC outlined a similar competition structure for Africa to be confirmed after consultation with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

The IOC also reviewed an updated report regarding the progress made by the IBA regarding ongoing concerns of governance, judging and financial structure.

“The IOC EB today received a report on the issues related to competition management and refereeing and judging processes highlighted by independent experts during the boxing competition at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“It also noted that no clear efforts have been made by the IBA to respect and fully implement the roadmap set out by the IOC EB in December 2021 with regard to the IBA’s governance,” the IOC said in a release.

The IOC noted that the financial situation of the IBA is still not ideal due to its dependence on a state-owned Russian oil company.

The IOC also accused the IBA of hindering their own effectiveness by not establishing a proper administrative office in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The suspension of the IBA will continue, and the IOC will also send another formal letter to the organization informing the IBA of the concerns. The letter will also be shared with the national boxing federations and other national Olympic committees.

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