Irish boxing at risk – review
BOXING will lose critical support from Sport Ireland and the Government if the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) doesn’t show a willingness to change its ways, a comprehensive review of the beleaguered organisation has revealed.
The IABA once again finds itself at the centre of controversy following Bernard Dunne’s resignation as High Performance Director last week — the association has asked him to reconsider that decision — while the governance review has listed 64 recommendations to improve the running of Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.
The creation of a new 12-member board of directors to oversee the running of Irish boxing is the key proposal, with a qualified coach and a former Olympian being two of the directors.
An EGM (extraordinary general meeting) was called for next month to discuss the findings of the report.
However, the authors of the document outlined the ramifications if the review is not taken seriously, with the future of amateur boxing in Ireland at stake.
‘The consequences of not fully implementing this review will run deep within the sport,’ the review pointed out. ‘The sport is heavily reliant on funding from Sport Ireland and elsewhere to survive. That is not just funding to pay staff salaries or fund the High Performance programme, it is funding which supports programmes, initiatives and capital spend at club level.
‘That is what is at jeopardy if the IABA fails to see through the reforms that will instil confidence in external stakeholders to invest in the sport.’