The International Boxing Association (IBA) said National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are interfering in the activities of federations within the organization and threatening them with funding cuts.
The IBA was stripped of its recognition by the IOC last summer. The organization’s exclusion from the Olympic movement was later confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“In recent weeks, the IBA has become aware that several National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are directly interfering with their respective national federations to intimidate them into reducing funding due to IBA membership. This situation is totally unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of our sport and must be addressed and denounced immediately.
The IBA asserts its autonomy and independence from any other organization and demands the same respect for its member national federations. Attempts to violate this autonomy are undoubtedly a clear sign of direct interference on the part of the IOC. We are fully aware of the people involved in this work and, in return, we will take appropriate action,” the IBA said in a statement.
“It is truly disrespectful when the NOC tries to influence our national federations and blackmail them, at the risk of losing their financial support. The IBA National Federations are of crucial importance to us and will be supported at all costs. We have all the resources to support the competition and development of boxing around the world, as well as independently supporting our elite athletes. IBA national federations should not be intimidated by this weak intervention, which clearly has a direct link to world boxing, said IBA general secretary and chief executive Chris Roberts.
The IBA previously announced it would pay prize money to Olympic boxing medalists at the 2024 Games in Paris. The same day, the IOC announced that it would not allow boxers from federations that are part of the IBA to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
