IBA blasts breakaway world body as ‘orchestrated coup’

LONDON:  A group including the US and Britain announced a new world boxing federation on Thursday in a breakaway aimed at securing the troubled sport’s Olympic future.

Leaders of Swiss-registered World Boxing told a news conference they would seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The existing world body, the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) that was suspended by the IOC in 2019, denounced the move in a statement as an ‘orchestrated coup.’

The founders include federations who have already announced boycotts of this year’s men’s and women’s world championships organized by IBA.

“I think we all know that it’s time for a change,” USA Boxing President Tyson Lee told reporters on a Zoom call. “Or at least it’s time for another option — an option that prioritizes the Olympic movement.”

The IBA said the move was an attack on its autonomy and came as no surprise.

“For those involved in the creation of the rogue international boxing organization and the nations who claim to be members of it, there is no doubt that the IBA will reserve its rights to claim damages...,“said IBA Secretary General George Yerolimpos.

Boxing’s place in the Olympics after next year’s Paris Games remains uncertain, with the sport not on the initial program for Los Angeles 2028, pending reforms demanded by the IOC.

The IBA — suspended over governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues — was stripped of involvement in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the qualifiers for Paris 2024.

The interim executive board of World Boxing will be overseen by Simon Toulson, a Briton who previously led the International Canoe Federation and worked in the IOC’s sports department and with national Olympic committees.

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