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Boxing's Olympic future remains uncertain after the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) voted against joining the rival World Boxing (WB) association. The vote, held via secret ballot, saw 21 countries opt to continue with the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA), while 14 favored joining WB.The IOC has repeatedly threatened to exclude boxing from the 2028 Olympics if national federations continue to align with the IBA, which has been suspended due to governance and financial concerns. WB, a breakaway body, aims to gain IOC recognition and has 42 members, while the IBA has over 100 affiliated units.The ASBC's decision leaves the Olympic future of boxing hanging in the balance. However, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh remains optimistic that WB will reach the 50-member mark required for provisional IOC recognition by year-end."India is taking all possible steps to ensure that boxing remains a part of the Olympic movement," Singh said. "It is clear that the IOC will not accept IBA as the international parent body for boxing."Despite the ASBC's vote, Singh believes that 14 Asian countries that voted in favor of joining WB will soon submit their applications. IBA, meanwhile, has criticized WB, claiming it lacks the resources and expertise to organize major events and support its members."World Boxing has no finances, expertise, and support to organize any proper major events, no means to support their members, and no intention to develop boxing," IBA said in a statement.IBA also urged national federations to reconsider leaving, warning that it could lead to a dead end. However, WB welcomed the support from the Asian body, stating that it reflects the IBA's hard work in boxing development worldwide.

The future of boxing at the Olympics hangs in the balance after a damaging gender controversy overshadowed the sport's inclusion at the Paris Games.Boxing has been a staple of the modern Olympics since its debut in 1904, with legendary fighters like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, and Lennox Lewis all starting their careers at the Games. However, its presence at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is now uncertain.The controversy erupted when the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwanese Lin Yu-ting from its world championships last year, claiming genetic testing showed they were "men." The IOC cleared them to compete in Paris, expressing doubts about the IBA's testing and motivations.Khelif won gold in Paris, declaring, "I am a woman like any other." Taiwanese officials have threatened legal action against the IBA. Lin also won gold in her weight category.The IBA's actions have drawn widespread criticism, with veteran British boxing journalist Steve Bunce calling it "an absolute disaster." Former British boxer Spencer Oliver agrees, saying, "It's just a mess because boxing comes into the spotlight again, but for the wrong reason."At the heart of boxing's problems is a dispute between the IOC and the IBA. The IOC stepped in to run boxing at the Tokyo and Paris Games, effectively freezing the IBA out of the Olympic movement. IOC president Thomas Bach has warned that boxing's national federations need to find a new international partner for the IOC to consider its inclusion in 2028.The IBA's main contribution in Paris was a chaotic press conference that failed to clarify its reasons for disqualifying Khelif and Lin. IBA president Umar Kremlev, a Kremlin-linked oligarch, has been accused of misogyny and corruption.Those within the sport fear that excluding boxing from the Olympics would have multiple repercussions. Ireland's Kellie Harrington, who retained her title in Paris, worries that countries will pull funding for their boxing programs without the Olympics as a goal.British boxing officials have highlighted the importance of the Olympics as a springboard for professional success, with former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua being a prime example.Despite the governance issues, many believe that boxing's absence from the Olympics would be a significant loss. "I think the Olympics without boxing would be a shame. It would be very, very sad," said Oliver. "I'm hoping that they can sort out all the politics that go on behind the scenes, and boxing continues. I'm sure it will do."

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has sparked controversy by awarding $50,000 to Italian boxer Angela Carini after she withdrew from her Olympic bout against Algerian Imane Khelif. The incident has reignited the debate over gender eligibility in sports.Carini's withdrawal came after just 46 seconds of the welterweight round-of-16 match, as she was overwhelmed by Khelif's aggressive punches. The IBA, which was stripped of its international recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year, also announced that Carini's federation and coach would each receive $25,000.The controversy stems from the IBA's eligibility rules, which prohibit athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women's events. Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were cleared to compete in Paris despite failing the IBA's eligibility rules at the 2023 World Championships.IBA President Umar Kremlev defended the decision to award Carini prize money, stating that he was "not indifferent to such situations" and that the IBA would "protect each boxer." He also questioned why "they kill women's boxing" and emphasized that only eligible athletes should compete for safety reasons.Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni weighed in on the controversy, noting that Carini faced a boxer with physical advantages, making it "not a fight between equals." The incident has led to increased scrutiny of the IBA's eligibility rules, which are based on those from the Tokyo Games in 2021 and cannot be altered during the ongoing competition.However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. WBC women's world featherweight champion Skye Nicolson defended Khelif and Lin, arguing that they had been competing as women throughout their careers. She suggested that Carini's withdrawal could have been a "publicity stunt."The controversy over gender eligibility in sports is likely to continue, as the IBA's rules are based on scientific evidence that suggests that athletes with male XY chromosomes have a physical advantage over those with female XX chromosomes. The IOC has stated that it will review the IBA's eligibility rules after the Paris Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sparked controversy by allowing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu-ting to compete in the Paris Olympics despite their disqualification from last year's World Championships due to unspecified gender tests.The decision has raised concerns about fairness and the integrity of the competition. Khelif's opponent, Italy's Angela Carini, forfeited her bout after two hard punches, claiming she feared her nose was broken.The IOC defended its decision, stating that the athletes' gender and age are based on their passports and that they comply with the eligibility regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). The IOC also criticized the IBA's sudden and arbitrary disqualification of the boxers.IBA, however, maintains that its decision was based on a separate and recognized test that indicated the athletes had competitive advantages over other female competitors. The test results remain confidential.The IOC emphasized that eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition and that any rule changes must follow appropriate processes and be based on scientific evidence. The IOC also expressed concern about the abuse the athletes are receiving.Khelif is set to face Hungary's Luca Anna Hamori in the 66kg quarter-finals on Saturday, while Yu-ting will meet Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova in the Round of 16 on Friday.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has made a significant move by joining World Boxing, a breakaway organization from the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA). This decision aims to safeguard the future of boxing in the Olympics, as the IOC has threatened to exclude the sport from the 2028 Los Angeles Games if national federations continue to align with the IBA.BFI President Ajay Singh emphasized the importance of retaining boxing's Olympic status, stating, "It is absolutely vital to the sustainability of boxing that it retains its Olympics status, so we are delighted to join World Boxing." He expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the WB Executive Board to shape the sport's future and provide a brighter outlook for boxers worldwide.World Boxing, led by former IBA presidential candidate Boris van der Vorst, was established in April 2023 with the goal of ensuring boxing's place in the Olympic movement. The BFI's membership application was approved by its General Assembly and will be ratified by World Boxing's Executive Board.Van der Vorst welcomed the BFI's decision, acknowledging India's significance in international boxing. He stated, "India is a very important country in international boxing and we look forward to welcoming the BFI into the growing World Boxing family. This is a very exciting development which will significantly increase our presence in Asia and I look forward to working closely with the BFI in delivering our common goals."On May 7, WB held its first formal meeting with the IOC, marking the beginning of a collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games. The IOC had de-recognized the IBA in 2019 due to ongoing financial, sports integrity, and governance issues.As a result, boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be overseen by the IOC, marking the second consecutive time that the IBA will have no involvement in the sport at the mega-event.

India's Olympic medal hopes have suffered a significant setback with the provisional suspension of World Championships bronze medalist Parveen Hooda for Whereabouts Failure. The 26-year-old boxer has accumulated three such failures within a year, violating WADA regulations.Hooda's suspension, which carries a potential two-year ineligibility, has left the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) scrambling for solutions. The federation is in constant communication with the International Boxing Association (IBA) to explore options for reducing the sanction or overturning it altogether. However, there is no precedent for such a reversal.Even if the suspension is reduced to one year, Hooda will lose her Olympic quota in the 57kg category. The berth will likely be awarded to 60kg pugilist Jaismine Lamboria, who has been asked to prepare for the World Olympic Qualifiers in Bangkok.Hooda's coach, Sudhir Hooda, expressed disappointment and frustration, stating that repeated reminders about whereabouts updates were ignored. The BFI has remained tight-lipped on the issue, but secretary general Hemanta Kalita indicated that they are exploring all possible channels to mitigate the situation.Parveen's absence from the Elorda Cup in Kazakhstan, where she was initially listed, raised suspicions about her status. The Asian Games bronze medalist is currently at her home in Rohtak, Haryana.The Whereabouts Failure violation highlights the importance of athletes adhering to anti-doping regulations. Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool are required to provide accurate and timely information about their location to facilitate out-of-competition testing. Failure to do so can result in severe consequences, as Parveen has unfortunately discovered.