The International Olympic Committee recommended Wednesday that amateur boxing's governing body be stripped of its right to organise the event at Tokyo 2020, but said the sport should still feature at the Games.
The guidance from the IOC's executive board -- almost certain to be rubber-stamped by the full IOC membership next month -- followed a months-long investigation into alleged serious mismanagement at the crisis-riddled International Boxing Association (AIBA).
The probe "speaks for itself," IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters in Lausanne.
He said the evidence details "extremely serious issues" within AIBA ranging from "deficiencies" in governance, to lack of due diligence and conflicts of interest.
In ousting AIBA from the Tokyo Games but creating a new path for boxers to compete, the IOC was seeking to ensure that athletes "can live their dream and participate in the Olympic Games" while making sure AIBA faced "the necessary consequences," Bach said in a statement.
The IOC probe was led by audit firm Deloitte, and centred on subjects ranging from finances, governance and ethics to anti-doping, refereeing and judging.
The probe determined that AIBA has made "a lack of satisfactory progress," in resolving its issues, the IOC said.
Formed in 1946, AIBA has overseen decades of signature Olympic moments, notably the 1960 gold medal win in Rome by Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay.
But its reputation has been tarnished in recent years as it careened from crisis to crisis.
Relations between AIBA and the IOC took a sharp downward turn following the 2016 Rio Games, when 36 officials and referees were suspended amid allegations of bout fixing.
An internal investigation by AIBA raised deeper questions about the judging in Rio, with particular suspicion falling on a French official.
Then in 2017, AIBA executives forced out the body's president C.K. Wu, amid claims of multi-million dollar accounting fraud.
Wu, a Taiwanese national, denied wrongdoing and remains a member of the IOC, an indication that he retains the support of senior Olympic officials.
Wu was ultimately replaced by the controversial Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov, who the US Treasury Department has linked to "transnational criminal organisations".
Rakhimov, who stepped aside in March, vehemently rejects such charges and insists the allegations against him are "politically motivated lies".
Bach said that because Rakhimov has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, dealing with AIBA posed a "high risk... (for) anybody who is subject to US jurisprudence."
Complications surrounding Rakhimov's designation by the US government "played a major role in the deliberations of the inquiry commission," Bach said.
Rakhimov was replaced as interim president by Moroccan doctor Mohamed Moustahsane -- the fourth head of AIBA in 18 months.
Before the announcement, AIBA's leadership had insisted that the organisation had met all the requirements stipulated by the IOC.
The governing body's chief executive Tom Virgets told AFP earlier this month that the organisation had "done everything that has been asked by the IOC".
"Every single document asked, we produced, every single requirement we have met," he said.
Addressing boxers hoping to compete in 2020, Bach vowed that "there will be an Olympic tournament in Tokyo."
The IOC has created a special taskforce led by Morinari Watanabe of the Japanese Olympic Committee to organise both the qualifiers and the Tokyo competition.
Details have yet to be hammered out, but the IOC said qualifications will take place between January and May 2020.
Boxers, Bach said, should rest assured that there will be a "fair competition in which all the athletes have equal and fair chances."
Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
I hope they sort this out. Amateur boxing in the US is dwindling and thus driving down pro boxing's popularity. The Olympics are the place that we used to latch onto prospects and follow them through their subsequent pro careers.
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
That AIBA is on the ropes is good. It is totally corrupt.
But, there are consequences.
Less men, more women.
https://fightnews.com/olympic-boxing-le ... more-46367
www.mrboxhist.se
But, there are consequences.
Less men, more women.
https://fightnews.com/olympic-boxing-le ... more-46367
www.mrboxhist.se
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101097
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
WBA poised to help with 2020 Olympic Boxing
On Thursday, the WBA laid out its case:
WBA Supports Olympic Boxing
Boxing is one sport. Both in its professional and Olympic discipline. That is why the World Boxing Association (WBA) never opposed the participation of professional boxers in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. However, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) questioned the participation of the Fistiana Art for Tokyo 2020, the WBA launched its support for the IOC in its quest to protect athletes.
Thus was born in June 2018 “The Return of Boxing,” the WBA program that was supported by Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic and world heavyweight champion, as well as an ambassador of the oldest body organization governing universal pugilism.
The plan developed by the organization is based on seven points:
1. Strengthen our values: Participative writing of the Universal Charter of Boxing, together with athletes, officials, federations and fans from all around the world in order to underline our values of universality, diversity, respect, engagement and education.
2. Athlete’s welfare: Provide educational tools, and health/life insurance so the athletes are able to fully focus on their careers, and later enjoy a sustainable future after retirement.
3. Simplify the structures: Offer a unique regulator, and an ultimate authority. There’s a need to simplify with less bureaucracy, leveraging digital technologies to improve transparency, collaboration and efficiency.
4. Professionalize the officials and trainers: Let’s take care of those who care for the champions, give them scalable salaries, further their education and even develop a pension system.
5. Fans Empowerment: Turn them into real participants of the boxing world, share the passion and information but also strengthen the objectivity of decisions.
6. Digitalize the experience: Enable deeper insights, share exciting information and possibilities through a customized application.
7. Optimize the reach: Create one worldwide “pro/am” broadcasting channel, defined by regions, including subscriptions/PPV, OTT streaming facilities and its own production unit.
The manifesto, signed by Mendoza and Klitschko, was sent to all those interested in the welfare of boxing and received a great reception within several National Federations that affiliated to the WBA.
However, not everything was words. The WBA held amateur tournaments and, through its academy, instructed boxing judges and referees. Returning to what it did in Venezuela since 1990 with its KO Drugs Campaign that led several athletes to stardom, as it was the case of Jorge Linares. Furthermore, it is worth saying the WBA was the first organization to reach out to AIBA, before the controversy broke out, to advise them regarding professional boxing and to cooperate for the inclusion of professional athletes in amateur boxing.
On November 27, 2018, the WBA issued a new statement, also signed by Klitschko, in which they requested the IOC to recognize the WBA to be part of the Olympic movement to help athletes work for their dreams.
This request was ratified by the WBA on May 23, when it was announced that AIBA would not be part of the Olympic Committee, and offered all its experience to organize boxing for Tokyo 2020.
On Thursday, the WBA laid out its case:
WBA Supports Olympic Boxing
Boxing is one sport. Both in its professional and Olympic discipline. That is why the World Boxing Association (WBA) never opposed the participation of professional boxers in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. However, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) questioned the participation of the Fistiana Art for Tokyo 2020, the WBA launched its support for the IOC in its quest to protect athletes.
Thus was born in June 2018 “The Return of Boxing,” the WBA program that was supported by Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic and world heavyweight champion, as well as an ambassador of the oldest body organization governing universal pugilism.
The plan developed by the organization is based on seven points:
1. Strengthen our values: Participative writing of the Universal Charter of Boxing, together with athletes, officials, federations and fans from all around the world in order to underline our values of universality, diversity, respect, engagement and education.
2. Athlete’s welfare: Provide educational tools, and health/life insurance so the athletes are able to fully focus on their careers, and later enjoy a sustainable future after retirement.
3. Simplify the structures: Offer a unique regulator, and an ultimate authority. There’s a need to simplify with less bureaucracy, leveraging digital technologies to improve transparency, collaboration and efficiency.
4. Professionalize the officials and trainers: Let’s take care of those who care for the champions, give them scalable salaries, further their education and even develop a pension system.
5. Fans Empowerment: Turn them into real participants of the boxing world, share the passion and information but also strengthen the objectivity of decisions.
6. Digitalize the experience: Enable deeper insights, share exciting information and possibilities through a customized application.
7. Optimize the reach: Create one worldwide “pro/am” broadcasting channel, defined by regions, including subscriptions/PPV, OTT streaming facilities and its own production unit.
The manifesto, signed by Mendoza and Klitschko, was sent to all those interested in the welfare of boxing and received a great reception within several National Federations that affiliated to the WBA.
However, not everything was words. The WBA held amateur tournaments and, through its academy, instructed boxing judges and referees. Returning to what it did in Venezuela since 1990 with its KO Drugs Campaign that led several athletes to stardom, as it was the case of Jorge Linares. Furthermore, it is worth saying the WBA was the first organization to reach out to AIBA, before the controversy broke out, to advise them regarding professional boxing and to cooperate for the inclusion of professional athletes in amateur boxing.
On November 27, 2018, the WBA issued a new statement, also signed by Klitschko, in which they requested the IOC to recognize the WBA to be part of the Olympic movement to help athletes work for their dreams.
This request was ratified by the WBA on May 23, when it was announced that AIBA would not be part of the Olympic Committee, and offered all its experience to organize boxing for Tokyo 2020.
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Your Boxing Club
- Super Featherweight
- Posts: 18
- Joined: 28 Nov 2018, 06:35
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
The IOC Executive Board on Wednesday finalised weight categories eight men, five women for the Tokyo Games as well as the qualification system.
There will be four regional qualifiers to be staged between January and April next year while Japan, as hosts, will have the opportunity to directly qualify four men and two women.
Wladimir Klitschko and the WBA are just waiting for the opportunity to take control of Amateur Boxing.
There will be four regional qualifiers to be staged between January and April next year while Japan, as hosts, will have the opportunity to directly qualify four men and two women.
Wladimir Klitschko and the WBA are just waiting for the opportunity to take control of Amateur Boxing.
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
AIBA says it's facing bankruptcy and accuses IOC of orchestrating crisis.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101097
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday thrashed out the plan for the boxing qualification and competition for next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympics as it looks to run them without the suspended international boxing federation AIBA.
It also proposed almost trebling the number of women boxers to 100 out of the 286, up from 36 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
The IOC recommended last month that boxing should keep its place at next year's Games but recognition of AIBA, the governing body of the sport's amateur version, should be suspended until the issues surrounding its finances and governance are resolved.
The IOC Executive Board on Wednesday finalized weight categories (eight men, five women) for the Tokyo Games as well as the qualification system.
A sharp increase in women boxers compared to Rio was also proposed while men's numbers are to be reduced from 250 to 186. Rio also had a total of 286 boxers.
There will be four regional qualifiers (Africa, Europe, Asia/Oceania and Americas) to be staged between January and April next year while Japan, as hosts, will have the opportunity to directly qualify four men and two women.
"To allow the athletes a second chance to qualify for Tokyo we will have a final Olympic qualifying event probably in May next year," IOC sports director Kit McConnell told a news conference.
All IOC Executive Board decisions will need to be ratified by the IOC session in Lausanne next week.
AIBA has been in turmoil over its finances and governance for years with the federation $16 million in debt and an ongoing bitter battle over the presidency that has split the body internally.
AIBA largely depends on Olympic Games revenues to survive between Games and has started letting people go as a result of its Olympic exclusion.
The IOC has set up a task force headed by Japanese IOC member Morinari Watanabe, head of the international gymnastics federation, to organize qualifiers and the Tokyo Games competition.
A separate task force, headed by Serbian IOC member Nenad Lalovic, has been assigned to look into the ties with AIBA.
McConnell said Watanabe's task force, which does not include any member from the wider boxing family, would rely on some boxing expertise with AIBA providing details for referees, judges and other officials to be used in Tokyo.
"It is important that this direct contact with AIBA is maintained," McConnell said. He said other boxing experts would be consulted in the process.
"The task force has no direct representation of boxing federations but we will be calling on boxing expertise," he said.
It also proposed almost trebling the number of women boxers to 100 out of the 286, up from 36 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
The IOC recommended last month that boxing should keep its place at next year's Games but recognition of AIBA, the governing body of the sport's amateur version, should be suspended until the issues surrounding its finances and governance are resolved.
The IOC Executive Board on Wednesday finalized weight categories (eight men, five women) for the Tokyo Games as well as the qualification system.
A sharp increase in women boxers compared to Rio was also proposed while men's numbers are to be reduced from 250 to 186. Rio also had a total of 286 boxers.
There will be four regional qualifiers (Africa, Europe, Asia/Oceania and Americas) to be staged between January and April next year while Japan, as hosts, will have the opportunity to directly qualify four men and two women.
"To allow the athletes a second chance to qualify for Tokyo we will have a final Olympic qualifying event probably in May next year," IOC sports director Kit McConnell told a news conference.
All IOC Executive Board decisions will need to be ratified by the IOC session in Lausanne next week.
AIBA has been in turmoil over its finances and governance for years with the federation $16 million in debt and an ongoing bitter battle over the presidency that has split the body internally.
AIBA largely depends on Olympic Games revenues to survive between Games and has started letting people go as a result of its Olympic exclusion.
The IOC has set up a task force headed by Japanese IOC member Morinari Watanabe, head of the international gymnastics federation, to organize qualifiers and the Tokyo Games competition.
A separate task force, headed by Serbian IOC member Nenad Lalovic, has been assigned to look into the ties with AIBA.
McConnell said Watanabe's task force, which does not include any member from the wider boxing family, would rely on some boxing expertise with AIBA providing details for referees, judges and other officials to be used in Tokyo.
"It is important that this direct contact with AIBA is maintained," McConnell said. He said other boxing experts would be consulted in the process.
"The task force has no direct representation of boxing federations but we will be calling on boxing expertise," he said.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101097
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
Reduce number of male boxers and increase number of female?
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
That's the only way they can add females. I have no problem with adding females but I hate that they have to take the numbers from the men.The same thing happened in wrestling. The problem is that the Olympics have a cap of 10,500 athletes from all sports. If they add a new sport, they have to remove a different one to keep the number of athletes at 10,500. IMO the Olympics are adding so many BS sports that it is getting ridiculous. It's not that some of the sports are hard to do but surfing? golf? and the list goes on.
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
Badminton.JMac wrote: ↑21 Jun 2019, 14:24 That's the only way they can add females. I have no problem with adding females but I hate that they have to take the numbers from the men.The same thing happened in wrestling. The problem is that the Olympics have a cap of 10,500 athletes from all sports. If they add a new sport, they have to remove a different one to keep the number of athletes at 10,500. IMO the Olympics are adding so many BS sports that it is getting ridiculous. It's not that some of the sports are hard to do but surfing? golf? and the list goes on.
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
lol badminton seems ridiculous, but the high level stuff is actually hardcore. same goes for ping pong, easy to lol at it but dam those guys got skills
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
AIBA Calling For Fresh Elections After Losing Olympic Recognition
One day after being stripped of Olympic recognition, boxing body AIBA called for fresh elections in November to help rebuild its image and relations with the IOC.
AIBA executive committee member Umar Kremlev of Russia said Thursday a new president will be elected Nov. 15 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The International Olympic Committee cut AIBA out of any role in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic tournaments on Wednesday after an investigation into its leadership, ailing finances and integrity of bouts at previous Summer Games.
The election of AIBA president Gafur Rakhimov, who is under United States federal sanctions for suspected links to eastern European organized crime, pushed the IOC to act last year.
At an emergency executive committee meeting Thursday, attended by IOC officials, AIBA canceled a bylaw intended to allow Rakhimov to return to office this year by ending his self-suspension.
The executive panel did not move AIBA into bankruptcy despite debts of around $17 million.
The IOC has cut AIBA out of any share of Tokyo Olympic revenues, and devalued the 2019 world championships in Russia by removing their status as Olympic qualifiers.
Also Thursday, Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said the worlds tournaments — for men in September in Yekaterinburg, and for women in October in Ulan Ude — would go ahead as planned.
AIBA also created a panel to liaise with the IOC and discuss restoring Olympic status after Tokyo.
One day after being stripped of Olympic recognition, boxing body AIBA called for fresh elections in November to help rebuild its image and relations with the IOC.
AIBA executive committee member Umar Kremlev of Russia said Thursday a new president will be elected Nov. 15 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The International Olympic Committee cut AIBA out of any role in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic tournaments on Wednesday after an investigation into its leadership, ailing finances and integrity of bouts at previous Summer Games.
The election of AIBA president Gafur Rakhimov, who is under United States federal sanctions for suspected links to eastern European organized crime, pushed the IOC to act last year.
At an emergency executive committee meeting Thursday, attended by IOC officials, AIBA canceled a bylaw intended to allow Rakhimov to return to office this year by ending his self-suspension.
The executive panel did not move AIBA into bankruptcy despite debts of around $17 million.
The IOC has cut AIBA out of any share of Tokyo Olympic revenues, and devalued the 2019 world championships in Russia by removing their status as Olympic qualifiers.
Also Thursday, Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said the worlds tournaments — for men in September in Yekaterinburg, and for women in October in Ulan Ude — would go ahead as planned.
AIBA also created a panel to liaise with the IOC and discuss restoring Olympic status after Tokyo.
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Onetimeonly
- Super Featherweight
- Posts: 11584
- Joined: 16 Oct 2018, 06:28
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
We, or at least i, used to watch amateur International meets all the time. I haven't even tried to watch an Olympic bout in the last couple. Can't even find them at 5am.
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
Same here. Now you can't even find US amateur boxing meets on YouTube, much less TV. I can't remember the last Olympic boxing match I was able to watch on TV. Remember US vs USSR? US vs Cuba, etc. Really a shame.Onetimeonly wrote: ↑29 Jun 2019, 06:41 We, or at least i, used to watch amateur International meets all the time. I haven't even tried to watch an Olympic bout in the last couple. Can't even find them at 5am.
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Onetimeonly
- Super Featherweight
- Posts: 11584
- Joined: 16 Oct 2018, 06:28
Re: Boxing To Remain in Olympics, But IOC Says AIBA Will Not Run It
Starting to think this is a really good thing. I imagine the IGF have had their share of scandals, but there’s something reassuring about the IOC and Japanese involvement. Japan, after all, usually have the fairest judges in the pro game.
AIBA were absolutely dreadful, I hate them. Maybe this could be a nice fresh start. I’m all for gender gaps being shortened, too. It’s a shame they can’t just double the number of boxers.
AIBA were absolutely dreadful, I hate them. Maybe this could be a nice fresh start. I’m all for gender gaps being shortened, too. It’s a shame they can’t just double the number of boxers.