Olympic doubt for boxers

THE controversial Vladimir Nikitin versus Michael Conlan result at the Rio Olympics continues to haunt the International Boxing Association.

Thomas Bach, President of the International

Olympic Committee, warned over the weekend that boxing’s 114-year Olympic status could be reviewed amid fears that the sport faces expulsion from this year’s Youth Olympics and Tokyo 2020.

The IOC is concerned about governance issues within AIBA, with Bach highlighting the recent appointment of Gafur Rakhimov as AIBA interim President.

The Uzbek, who is being linked to organised crime, was installed as provisional AIBA chief an AIBA Congress in Dubai nine days ago.

None of the 109 National Federations - including Ireland - present in Arabia had a vote on the appointment.

Bach cited the “preparations for the Extraordinary Congress in Dubai and the way the new leadership was, I cannot say elected, but promoted or installed.”

The IOC is also concerned that some bouts at Rio 2016 were the subject of match-fixing.

Irish bantam Conlan, who has since turned pro, was adjudged to have lost to Russia’s Nikitin at Rio 2016, a result, along with a number of other decisions, which led to widespread consternation.

“The IOC Executive

Board is not satisfied with the report prepared by AIBA on governance, finance, referee and doping issues. The IOC reserves the right to review the inclusion of boxing at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” said Bach.

Meanwhile, Rio Olympian Joe Ward claimed the Best Overall Boxer Award at a sold-out Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) Annual Awards Night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin on Saturday.