Government tells IABA to reform or face 'immediate and severe financial sanctions'

Minister for Sport Jack Chambers has set a timeline for the IABA to adopt recommended guidelines for reform or face "immediate and severe financial sanctions" which would threaten the future of the organisation.

A recently commissioned independent report has suggested adopting a new structure within IABA which would include a new 12-member Board of Directors to oversee its running, half of which would be independent.

High Performance director Bernard Dunne resigned his position earlier this month.

Dunne's exit stems from a complaint he lodged against two volunteers back in October 2021 after an unsigned SWOT analysis critical of his performance was circulated at board level prior to the Tokyo Games .

Previous director Billy Walsh left his position due to internal politics with IABA and last week called for government intervention to assist change within Irish boxing.

Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Chambers said the upcoming EGM in June is the opportunity for delegates within the IABA to bring in recommendations of the report, which total 64 in total, or face being cut off from state funding.

He believes the new structure would take power away from those who commissioned the SWOT analysis on Dunne and see a new dawn for the sport where sporting directors could work without board interference.

Minister Chambers described the document on Dunne as "a disgrace".

He said: "We can't and will not be funding behaviour like this and governance disfunction. I want to see boxing fully embrace and support the recommendations in the review.

"They will have to produce an implementation plan within three months at the latest.

"The anonymous and malicious document right before the Olympics undermining Bernard Dunne and the High