Boxing Secures Olympic Spot for 2028 Games After Governance Reform

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved to reinstate boxing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking a pivotal resolution to years of turmoil in the sport’s leadership. On Monday, the IOC Executive Board recommended boxing’s inclusion, contingent on final approval during this week’s IOC Session in Greece—a formality outgoing President Thomas Bach anticipates will pass smoothly. 

“With the provisional recognition of World Boxing last month, we are confident this decision ensures clarity for athletes worldwide,” Bach stated, emphasizing that boxers can now “prepare with certainty” for LA 2028. The sport had initially been omitted from the 2028 program due to governance crises under the former International Boxing Association (IBA), which the IOC suspended in 2019 over ethical, financial, and refereeing scandals. The IBA, led by Russian officials, was fully expelled in June 2023 after failing to enact reforms. 

The newly formed World Boxing, established in April 2023 as a breakaway governing body, cleared the path for Olympic reinstatement by securing provisional IOC recognition in February. The organization now boasts 84 member federations across five continents, including Great Britain, and has met critical governance standards demanded by the IOC. 

The IOC confirmed that only boxers from national federations affiliated with World Boxing by the start of Olympic qualifiers will be eligible for LA 2028. While qualification dates remain unannounced, the ruling pressures remaining nations to align with the new body promptly. 

The decision culminates a turbulent chapter for Olympic boxing, which the IOC directly oversaw at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games amid the IBA fallout. With World Boxing’s emergence, the sport avoids exclusion from the Olympics for the first time in over a century. 

Final ratification by the full IOC membership is expected during this week’s session in Athens, solidifying boxing’s place in Los Angeles and signaling a fresh start for the sport’s global governance.