Complaint filed against countries boycotting world championships

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has opened disciplinary proceedings against several countries over their planned boycott of amateur world championships due to the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian boxers.

The IBA lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers competing under their flags last October, against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) guidance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year.

Belarus allowed its territory to be used for the invasion.

The action of the IBA, which is headed by a Russian, Umar Kremlev, targets USA Boxing CEO Mike McAtee, President of Boxing Canada Ryan O'Shea, Czech Boxing Association President Marek Simak, Swedish Boxing Association Chairman Per-Axel Sjoholm and Boxing New Zealand President Steve Hartley.

"In boxing, there is no place for any form of discrimination, and IBA sees it as its mission to protect its values," the governing body said in a statement on Wednesday, adding the countries had violated articles of its ethics code.

The code states that any official who "incites a boycott of a competition or withdraws from a competition without a valid reason" is subject to a suspension of up to four years from all boxing activities.

"Moreover, the IBA will defend its integrity and reputation and will not let any individuals damage it through their unethical behaviour," the statement said.

A total of 11 countries, including Ireland, are boycotting the championships, as are Britain, Poland, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Norway.

The boycotting nations have said they will not take part in the women's championship, due to be held in New Delhi from 15 March, or in the men's championship in Tashkent from 1 May.

Last month, Ukraine's boxing federation (FBU)