IBA President Omar Kremlev informed Reuters on Friday that the International Boxing Association had met all reform standards and it might be “criminal” if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eliminated boxing from the Olympics.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 over problems with finance and administration and likewise didn’t contain it within the working of boxing occasions on the subsequent Tokyo Olympics.
The strained relations between the sports activities our bodies additional deteriorated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr.
Amateur boxing’s governing physique defied IOC steering and final October lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers competing beneath their flags.
Kremlev mentioned that beneath him the IBA has left behind corruption and chapter to emerge as an environment friendly group.
“The IBA has 100% met all the criteria on all the questions raised regarding fairness and system reform,” Russia informed Reuters on the sidelines of the continued Women’s World Championships in New Delhi.
“We have no debt, we’ve monetary system. We have energetic and former boxers on our board of administrators.
“I think we are one of the 10 most efficient and successful international federations in the world.”
The IOC plans to maintain IBA out of the qualification course of for subsequent yr’s Olympics in Paris, whereas boxing isn’t within the preliminary program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Kremlev mentioned that any transfer to take away boxing from the Olympics can be “the most criminal decision in the history of the Olympic movement”, which might face a backlash.
“We will not allow anyone to exclude boxing from the Olympic Games,” he mentioned.
“Those who need boxing to be stored out of the Olympic Games will likely be handled as criminals.
“Lakhs of boxers are prepared to return to Lausanne (Switzerland) and demand an evidence from the IOC, as a result of we’re a robust household, a united household.
“If they are going to make such a decision, I think the IOC has to reform.”
Kremlev referred to as the IOC-IBA deadlock a “misunderstanding” that may very well be resolved in a day.
“I really hope everyone comes to their senses and instead of exchanging mail, we can just sit down at the negotiating table and find a solution,” he mentioned.
“I think the solution can be found in a day. I think it is possible.”
But for that, the Russian mentioned, the IOC must deal with the IBA as an “equal partner”.
“We should not be informed what to do, we should not be dictating what to do. We should be handled equally, as equal companions.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
