Dear USA Boxing Members:
USA Boxing has acknowledged the recent statements made by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) to the boxing community and most recently in the Washington Post regarding the uncertainty
of boxing in the Paris 2024 Olympic program and beyond. While it is clear that the future of Olympic
boxing is in jeopardy, USA Boxing remains fully committed to supporting the IOC’s clear requirements
for readmission into the Olympic movement: prioritizing the needs of boxers (athletes), fair play,
proper governance, ethical leadership, and financial stability to meet the requirements to keep
boxing in the Olympic program.
(International Boxing Association) IBA President Kremlev was recently quoted in an IBA web post
dated December 11, 2023, “...The IOC must hear us. We have the same goals as them, to create the best
conditions for the athletes. We should fight for our sport at the Olympics. I want to stress that not a
single boxer, coach or National Federation will be participating in the Olympic Games without IBA. This
is a request from the boxers...” USA Boxing is concerned that IBA is prioritizing its own role in the
Olympics above the interests of the boxers. To be clear, Kremlev’s statement is the opinion of one
person who does not speak for all 38,000+ USA Boxing’s boxers or other National Federations and
their boxers. Boxers, coaches and officials have been participating in Olympic Qualification and the
Olympic Games without the participation by IBA, most recently throughout the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
cycle. Olympic-style boxing is and has been in the Olympic movement continually from 1904 to 2020,
while IBA has not.
The IBA President and/or the Board of Directors do NOT have the constitutional authority to deny
boxers, coaches, or officials from participating in boxing at local, national, and certainly not Olympic
Qualification and Olympic Games level competitions, without specific violations of the rules and
without judicial process. USA Boxing officially rejects Kremlev’s false and misleading statement.
Since the onset of IBA’s suspension in 2019, USA Boxing has monitored the progress of IBA in meeting
the requirements for reinstatement. USA Boxing’s leadership has provided full transparency with its
concerns of the lack of progress made by IBA as well as statements from IBA President Kremlev
claiming that the Olympics are only one of several priorities for the international federation’s long-
term plans.
To be clear, maintaining Olympic recognition is not simply one of USA Boxing’s priorities, it is the top
priority. However, USA Boxing fully understands that Olympic recognition is not a right, but a
privilege. USA Boxing’s stated position has not changed, “The future of boxing as an Olympic sport is
in doubt, and the IOC has made it clear that unless significant changes are made, it will not be included
in the program for the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond. This represents a critical threat to the future of
the sport, both at the elite level and grassroots. We have a responsibility and a duty to everyone
connected with the sport to explore all possibilities and do everything we can to ensure boxing’s
continued inclusion in the Olympic games, thereby providing opportunities and inspiration for boxers
across the world and for all future generations.”
The USA has a rich history of Olympic-style boxing, and we have won more Olympic medals than any
other country. As a leading National Federation within the sport, it is USA Boxing’s responsibility to
work with our partners and stakeholders, specifically the United States Olympic and Paralympic
Committee (USOPC), National Federations and the boxing community, to do everything within our
collective power to help the sport meet the requirements for inclusion in the Olympic movement.
This responsibility is not simply for the Paris 2024 or LA 2028 Olympics, but for the long-term future
of Olympic boxing. USA Boxing remains fully committed to this objective and will continue to pursue
all possible measures to ensure boxing’s presence within the Olympic movement.
USA Boxing will continue to provide updates to members as more information becomes available.
In your corner
Mike McAtee
Executive Director/CEO