Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Anger as boxing KO’D from Olympic ring
Sport Ireland’s concern for fighters
FUTURE medal hopes at the Olympic Games were dealt a potential knockout blow yesterday.
The International Olympic Committee has frozen out boxing’s governing body and has “stopped planning” for the sport at Tokyo in 2020.
The move coincides with the IOC starting an investigation into the governance, financial management and sporting integrity of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
It also comes after the body appointed as president businessman Gafur Rakhimov, who has been linked to a global crime network by the US Treasury Department.
In a statement yesterday afternoon, Sport Ireland said it was “deeply concerned, but not surprised”.
It added: “The IOC have been clear on their position on this matter for a considerable time.
“When Gafur Rakhimov was elected as the president earlier this month, AIBA and the international boxing community would have been acutely aware of the IOC’S warning the election of Mr Rakhimov as president would jeopardise boxing’s place on the programme for
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Tokyo 2020. The current situation creates great uncertainty for the outstanding athletes within Ireland’s boxing high performance programme.
“There had already been significant worry amongst the sporting community the qualification pathway for Tokyo had not been announced.
“Sport Ireland will continue to monitor the situation and, in the meantime, work with the IABA to prepare Ireland’s boxers to the highest standards in the hope a resolution is found to the current situation.”
The news will concern a number of fighters preparing for Tokyo, including medal prospect Kellie Harrington who picked up a gold at the World Championships last week.
Boxing has seen Ireland take home many medals in the past including Katie Taylor and Michael Carruth’s respective golds in 2012 and 1992.
However, in a statement outlining its action against the AIBA, the IOC did offer some hope.
It said: “The IOC Executive Board makes all efforts to protect the athletes and ensure a boxing tournament can take place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 regardless of these measures.”