The plot of the IBA is coming to an end after the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS), which dismissed “the appeal filed by the International Boxing Association against the IOC’ s decision to withdraw its recognition due to the serious anomalies denounced by the International Olympic Committee“. These lines summarize the current scenario of Olympic boxing, but it would be good and healthy to go back to the origins of this sport in the Olympic Games of Antiquity in the 7th century, or when in 1889 Marquis John Sholto Douglas introduced the use of gloves and the rules that are still in force. I cite Sholto Douglas because if the Marquis of Queensberry were to see what boxing is experiencing today as opposed to what it was in the past, he would think it was a real desecration of the principles of how this Olympic sport was conceived.

The scandals of recent years and the allegations of fight fixing in all latitudes have to make us reflect and look more closely at the scandals that surround a sport that in its most genuine and valuable expression is far from corruption alone.

Here there are relevant actors in decision making, who are in control. The scandals about the ring that these days appears in the media dates back at least to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Even more, there are presumptions that the match-fixing also points to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

• ARGUMENTS FOR WHICH THE IOC WITHDRAWS RECOGNITION FROM IBA
  A) the IBA had not increased its transparency and financial sustainability, including through diversification of revenues.
  B) The IBA had not changed its procedures related to referees and judges to ensure their integrity, including a monitoring period of the IBA’s own competitions prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
  C) The IBA had not ensured the full and effective implementation of all measures proposed by the “Governance Reform Group” established by the IOC, including a cultural change.

“Culture of fear, intimidation and obedience”

There is a name and a key man who schemed and orchestrated the purchase of Olympic and world fights, I am referring to the former director of the IBA, Karim Buozidi, who directly controlled the 5 star judges-referees, the latter executed the Frenchman’s master plan, in fact, the Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren -in charge of the investigation-, pointed out that there was a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience in the ranks of referees and judges”.

These almost 8 years of investigation by the competent bodies and the recent CAS resolution confirms that Olympic boxing has hit rock bottom, regardless of all the disclaimers and evidence presented by the IBA. In fact, they are analyzing with their lawyers the possibility of appealing to the Swiss Federal Court. For its part, the governing body of the five rings has pointed out with a firm voice through its president, Thomas Bach, who advocates for raising a new “recognized and reliable” federation, and went beyond political correctness: “Now the national sports federations and national Olympic committees have the responsibility to make the changes to meet the new challenges of international boxing”.

WORLD BOXING

While the members of the IBA think in court and watch them flounder, from the other side of the ring World Boxing is keeping a watchful eye on developments to add members and expand its membership to meet the requirements of the IOC to admit them as a new International Federation. Simon Toulson, secretary general of the organization, noted that they have “about 25 to 30 countries that have been quick to ask us if they can apply for membership. And, I think there are behind them another 25 to 30 countries that are beginning to evaluate the implications and how they can join. Even more so with the CAS ruling in the public domain.” World Boxing currently has 27 full members, including powerhouses such as the United States, England, Germany and the Philippines, among others. The list could be expanded soon.

There is no going back on the IOC’s decision. The accumulation of evidence and the statements of some 5-star judges-referees helped to confirm the acts of corruption and a non-transparent work, where decision making rests on a few, without representing the essence of the sport and boxing in particular.

The rigging or fixing of fights crossed the threshold and boundaries of this particular sport. It is entrenched in our population, we see it daily and many times by omission or simply because it does not affect us at the time, we look the other way as if we were not part of this society. Boxing is in the crosshairs, but it once again has the opportunity to stand up and reinvent itself again. The Marquis of Queensberry and his Olympic spirit must win this evening.