Olympic boxing readmits Russia and Belarus to competitions

Russia and Belarus are fully part of Olympic boxing. The Board of Directors of the International Boxing Association, (IBA) has decided to allow Russian and Belarusian boxers to return to competition with their flags and anthems with immediate effect. The officials and technicians of the two Nations de facto suspended from the international sports world after the ‘recommendation’ of the International Olympic Committee of 28 February last formulated following the Russian military invasion in Ukraine will also be able to take part.

“Politics should have no influence in sport, all athletes should be given equal conditions”. Says the IBA. “Out of respect for its autonomy, the federation will remain politically neutral and independent, ask for peace and will remain a peacemaker in all conflicts. In addition, the federation has the obligation to ensure equal treatment of athletes and match officials. regardless of their nationality and residence “.

At the end of September, the delegates of the national federations present at the Extraordinary Congress of the International Boxing Federation, which met in Yerevan in Armenia, had voted by a majority not to hold new elections. The Russian Umar Kremlev had therefore been confessed as president.

We recall that from 2019 the IOC suspended the IBA (which at that time was called Aiba) assigning to a task force at the head of which the weight of the world gynasty was placed for the organization of the Tokyo Olympics. Same story for Paris 2024, while in Los Angeles in 2028 boxing risks not going there at all.