The Paris Olympics have concluded, shifting the spotlight to Los Angeles for the 2028 games. However, fans are already expressing disappointment over the exclusion of a particular sport.
The 2024 Olympics were packed with excitement, from the much-talked-about debut of breakdancing to numerous controversies in gymnastics and boxing.
As preparations ramp up for the 2028 LA games, a significant issue has emerged. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has revealed that a beloved sport will not be part of the event.
In a departure from tradition, there will be no boxing categories in the 2028 Olympics, marking the first time in over a century for such an omission.
The decision follows numerous issues related to finance and governance between the IOC and the International Boxing Association (IBA).
In 2023, the IOC revoked its recognition of the IBA as the global governing body. For the 2024 Olympic games, the IOC removed the IBA from overseeing the boxing tournament and took issue with their choice to award prize money to winners.
In a statement from May, the IOC stated, “The IOC has taken note of the decision by the International Boxing Association (IBA) with regard to prize money. As always with the IBA, it is unclear where the money is coming from.”
“This total lack of financial transparency was exactly one of the reasons why the IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA. The IBA was not prepared to transparently explain the sources of its financing or to explain its full financial dependency, at the time, on a single state-owned company, Gazprom.”
The IOC elaborated that these issues were why the IBA was excluded from participating in the ‘qualification for or the organization of’ the boxing tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Paris 2024 games.
“For all these reasons, boxing is currently not on the sports programme of the Olympic Games LA28,” the IOC added.
To reinstate boxing, the IOC emphasized that it must be organized by a credible and well-governed International Federation.
They continued, “It is therefore already clear that any boxer whose National Federation adheres to the IBA will not be able to participate in the Olympic Games LA28.”
“The respective NOC will have to exclude such a National Boxing Federation from its membership.”
However, a final decision will not be made until 2025, leaving room for boxing to be included if the organizing bodies meet the IOC’s standards.
Boxing has been a staple of the summer Olympics since its introduction in 1904. The last exclusion of the sport was in 1912, due to Swedish laws prohibiting it at that time.