The financial troubles and corruption issues going on with boxing's global amateur governing body could result in the sport missing out on the next Summer Olympics.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said after an IOC executive meeting that the AIBA, who has been facing deep financial troubles for a long time, has been making progress, but that the sport of boxing still faces the risk of being excluded from the 2020 Olympics taking place in Tokyo.
"This report shows some progress and a good will but still lacks execution and substance in some areas. Our concerns on governance, financial and sporting integrity are continuing and we think that we now need to see actions. Therefore we retain our right to exclude boxing from Tokyo 2020," Bach said.
Before figuring out if boxing will take place in the next Olympics in two years, the AIBA has to comply with the IOC to make sure the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina is still happening in October. Bach said that the sport is still part of the Youth Olympic Games if the process of appointing judges and officials is shared with the IOC and is approved by "international and independent expertise."
As for the status of boxing being part of the 2020 Olympics, the IOC gave the AIBA an extension to further fix its numerous issues and present additional information up to July 11. The next IOC executive board meeting is scheduled to take place on July 17 and 18.
Aside from financial and leadership issues the AIBA has faced in the past year, amateur boxing had been dealing with heavy criticism over potential match fixing and controversial judging from the 2016 Summer Olympics.
