The IBA men’s World Championships, which get underway in Uzbekistan later this month, won’t have a squad from GB Boxing competing.
The choice was made in light of ongoing worries regarding the future of boxing as an Olympic sport and the presence of Russian and Belarussian teams at the World Championships.
The men’s competition, which is slated to take place in Tashkent from April 30 to May 14, is not open to the USA or Ireland, among other nations.
GB has also abstained from the world championships for women.
A representative for GB Boxing stated that the decision “reflects ongoing concerns about the future of boxing’s inclusion in the Olympic programme as well as the recent IBA decision to defy the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) position on the participation of athletes from Belarus and Russia by allowing teams of boxers from those countries to compete under their national flags.
“GB Boxing condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expresses its support for its people, athletes, coaches, and administrators.”
Due to problems with administration, financing, and refereeing, the international federation, which is governed by Russia, was barred from participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The future Olympic Games’ boxing tournament as well as the Paris 2024 qualification matches cannot be organised by the IBA.
In anticipation of the modifications that the IOC has sought, boxing has been withdrawn from the official schedule for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams stated during a news conference last week that the organisation “can only recognise a sport when there has been a full and fair qualification process.”
“To be clear, the IOC has no problems with boxing or the boxers; nonetheless, there are problems with the federation that has been suspended.”
The European Games, the first competition for Paris 2024’s Olympic qualification, will feature participation from Great Britain and start in Krakow later this year.
GB is participating in additional top-tier international contests to train their squad.
Their men’s team most recently won six medals at the Socikas competition in Lithuania. Outstanding participants included the English flyweight Kiaran MacDonald and the Welsh light heavyweight Taylor Bevan, both of whom took home gold medals.
The Gee Bee tournament in Finland, which begins on April 13, will be the team’s next competition.
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