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LA 2028: IOC Approves Inclusion of Boxing
On March 20, the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session approved the restoration of boxing to the sports programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
This follows the IOC Executive Board’s provisional recognition of World Boxing as the sport’s International Federation, which was announced last month. The decision was based on the satisfaction of sports criteria, including its membership in the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS) and governance criteria, including the recognition of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) jurisdiction. Founded in April 2023, World Boxing currently comprises 88 National Federations from across the five continents.
Boxing had been excluded from the LA28 initial sports programme due to concerns surrounding the then International Federation of Boxing, the International Boxing Association (IBA). After the IOC withdrew recognition of the IBA in June 2023—a decision upheld by CAS following an appeal—the inclusion of boxing in LA28 remained on hold.
Following the IOC’s withdrawal of the IBA’s recognition, the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 boxing tournaments, including the qualification process, were organised by boxing units set up by the IOC to protect the sport and safeguard the interests of athletes.
