The IOC stripped the IBA of its membership in 2023 over governance and financial issues. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) body of Olympic sporting bodies has announced the exclusion of the International Boxing Association (IBA) body from its list of member associations.

On April 3, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to withdraw its recognition of the IBA – taken last June – was justified, a ruling that has now prompted the ASOIF to act and withdraw the exiled boxing body’s membership.

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The CAS rejected an appeal from the IBA after the IOC revoked its membership in June 2023, citing a myriad of issues with the Swiss-based IBA’s finances, governance, and ethics. A warning on these was issued in 2019, but as the IOC deemed the IBA had not done enough to rectify the issues, the body will now no longer organize Olympic boxing.

ASOIF president Francesco Ricci Bitti stated at the SportAccord conference in Birmingham, UK, that national boxing federations and national Olympic Committees must resolve to find a suitable replacement for the IBA by 2025 at the latest.

In response, the IBA reiterated its commitment to advancing the sport of boxing with or without Olympic recognition, stating: “The IBA reiterates that it has already implemented significant governance and compliance reforms since late 2020. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of transparency and integrity within the boxing community while delivering world-class events.”

It has stated, in response to the CAS ruling: “The IBA strongly rejects the CAS decision as it completely repeats the IOC’s rhetoric, despite sufficient proof of the progress has been provided. The IBA will go down the road to protect its athletes and coaches by considering the Swiss Federal Tribunal appeal.

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The IOC will run boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but there is a real risk that boxing may be blacklisted from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics should those involved fail to find a resolution – it is currently not on the sports program.

The ASOIF announcement came at the April 9 ASOIF general assembly, held at SportAccord, where the body also confirmed the election of Ingmar De Vos as its new president.

In March it was announced that De Vos, president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) governing body, would run unopposed for the role of replacing Ricci Bitti, whose third and final term ends on December 31.

De Vos, who is also a member of the IOC and sits on the ASOIF council and executive committee, was the only nominee for the presidency, despite every ASOIF full member body having the ability to nominate an executive body member for the role.