IOC Pushes NOCs to Derecognize Boxing Bodies Tied to IBA

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has intensified its ongoing dispute with the International Boxing Association (IBA), urging National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to cut ties with national boxing federations still affiliated with the IBA, according to PTI.

The IBA responded strongly, calling the IOC’s actions “unacceptable gaslighting.”

In a letter sent to NOCs on September 30, the IOC reaffirmed that any national boxing federation continuing to align with the IBA would be excluded from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“NOCs shall no longer affiliate or maintain institutional relations with national boxing federations that are still affiliated to the IBA,” the letter emphasized. It further warned that boxers from such federations would not be eligible to compete in the LA28 Olympics.

This directive follows a similar notice issued in May, in which the IOC called for the exclusion of national federations tied to the IBA. The recent escalation comes shortly after the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) voted against breaking away from the IBA in favor of joining World Boxing, a new organization that the IOC supports.

India, which joined World Boxing earlier this year while maintaining its membership with the IBA, now finds itself under scrutiny, with the IBA previously warning the country against attempting to “sail in two boats.”

The IBA, which remains suspended due to governance and corruption concerns, expressed outrage at the IOC’s latest directive. In a media release, the organization called the letter “deeply disappointing” and accused the IOC of engaging in “sporting blackmail.”

IBA Secretary General Chris Roberts also responded, writing to NOCs to defend the IBA’s position. He described the IOC’s pressure as “direct interference” and urged national federations to resist the IOC’s “gaslighting” tactics. “We encourage our National Federations to stay calm and not give in to these manipulative actions,” the statement read.

The IBA, suspended since 2019, has not overseen Olympic boxing in the past two editions of the Games, and boxing is currently not included in the program for the 2028 LA Olympics. The IOC has made it clear that for the sport to be part of the Games, a recognized international governing body must be established by early 2025, signaling that the IBA is no longer considered a viable option.

The dispute underscores the deepening tensions between the IOC and IBA as the future of boxing in the Olympics hangs in the balance.