Boxing sweats over IOC move

– The International Olympic Committee (IOC) put planning for the Tokyo 2020 boxing tournament on hold yesterday in a move that could see the governing body AIBA frozen out of the Games.

The IOC said it had also launched an investigation into the International Boxing Association after AIBA submitted a progress report focusing on governance, financial management and sporting integrity.

It referred to that enquiry as “the initiation of a procedure which can lead to the withdrawal of recognition for AIBA” but said it still hoped boxing would be part of the programme.

“The IOC Executive Board makes all efforts to protect the athletes and ensure that a boxing tournament can take place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 regardless of these measures,” the statement read.

Boxing has featured in all but one of the Olympics since 1904.