Boxing set to return to Olympics at LA 2028 after governance overhaul

Boxing will officially make its return to the Olympic roster at the 2028 Los Angeles Games following a period of prolonged controversy and administrative upheaval. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, announced on Monday that the IOC executive board has endorsed the sport's inclusion in the 2028 programme, with final approval from around 100 IOC members expected later this week — a step typically regarded as procedural.
The move comes after the IOC cut ties with the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2019 due to ongoing issues related to management, financial instability, and integrity concerns. Following this, the IOC took unprecedented action in 2023, permanently removing the IBA from Olympic participation just before some of its members established a new governing body known as World Boxing.
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"I am very confident that the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games LA 2028 if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing," Bach stated. The IOC had managed boxing events independently at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics, but was determined to establish a new partnership before the Los Angeles Games.
World Boxing, officially recognised by the IOC last month, has pledged to address governance issues and update regulations on female eligibility before Olympic qualifiers commence in 2025. The organisation has garnered support from key Olympic nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and recently China, though Russia, Spain, and several African nations are yet to join.
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst expressed optimism, stating, "This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic program. I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world."
The IBA, however, remains defiant and announced plans to pursue legal action against the IOC in America, France and Switzerland. The conflict between the IBA and IOC escalated over eligibility rules for women's boxing at the Paris Olympics, with the IBA’s Russian president, Umar Kremlev, continuing to challenge the IOC’s stance.
Despite the legal battles and lingering opposition, the IOC remains committed to ensuring that national boxing organisations have time to align themselves with World Boxing before the qualification phase. The decision marks a significant milestone for the sport, restoring its place on the Olympic stage while promoting enhanced governance and integrity.