Canada Boycotts Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships Amid Concerns Over IBA Governance
In a bold move, Canada has decided to skip this year’s men’s and women’s world boxing championships in protest of the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, as well as concerns over the governing body’s operations.
“We’ve joined that movement,” stated Boxing Canada president Ryan O’Shea. “That message is going to be very, very strong.”
The boycott includes the reigning women’s world middleweight champion, Regina’s Tammara Thibeault, and world silver medalist in the women’s welterweight, Charlie Cavanagh of Saint John, N.B.
O’Shea emphasized that the focus for both the male and female Canadian boxers is on qualifying for the upcoming Pan American Games in Chile, which serve as the first Olympic qualification event. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the IBA in 2019 due to governance issues, and the IOC is now managing the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“We need boxing to remain in the Olympic Games,” O’Shea said. “It was one of the very first sports involved in 1896. And right now, the IOC has removed us in 2028 unless they see serious change at a governance level. That is why I think we’re starting to see countries pull out and not attend these critically important tournaments.”
The IBA’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags, despite the IOC’s recommendation to exclude them, has been a major point of contention for the boycotting nations. The IBA has also offered a substantial $5.2 million in prize money for the world championships and threatened “strong sanctions” against officials who join the boycott.
In the end, Canada’s stance underscores the growing concerns over the IBA’s governance and its impact on the future of boxing in the Olympic Games.
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