Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and International Boxing Assosiation (AIBA) President Umar Kremlev (R) tour the newly opened International Boxing centre at the Luzhniki Sports Complex, in Moscow September 10, 2022. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / SPUTNIK / AFP)
LONDON—The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) said on Wednesday it would reverse a ban on amateur boxers from Russia and Belarus and allow them to compete with national flags and anthems in events with immediate effect.
The world governing body, which is at odds with Olympic organizers, said its board of directors had voted in favor of the change.
Russian energy company Gazprom is the biggest sponsor of the IBA, formerly known as AIBA.
“The IBA strongly believes that politics shouldn’t have any influence on sports. Hence, all athletes should be given equal conditions,” the statement said.
“IBA calls for peace and remains a peacemaker in any conflicts. Moreover, the IBA has obligation to ensure equal treatment towards the athletes and competition officials, regardless of their nationality and residence.
“Both Russian and Belarus teams will be able to perform under their flags, and the national anthems will be played in case they win a gold medal.
“According to the decision, the technical officials of Russia and Belarus will also be back in the competitions.”
Both countries have been barred since March from the IBA’s international competitions, following Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine.
The IBA, led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, last month suspended Ukraine ahead of a meeting that voted against a fresh presidential election.
That followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that Dutch federation president Boris van der Vorst was wrongly prevented from standing against Kremlev in May.
The IBA does not recognize Kyrylo Shevchenko as president of the Ukrainian federation but instead considers its head to be Volodymyr Prodyvus, a Kremlev ally who left Ukraine in February.
Kremlev was quoted last week as saying the time had come for athletes from Russia and ally Belarus to be allowed to compete under their own flags.
The IOC has taken away from the IBA the qualification tournaments and competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics after also stripping the body of involvement in last year’s Tokyo Games due to governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues.
Boxing has also not been included in the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Van der Vorst said the IBA’s latest decision separated the boxing body further from the Olympic movement and “does not consider the interests of the world boxing community.”
“Contrary to the IBA messages, this decision is an enforcement of the Russian government’s geopolitical agenda on the sport of boxing,” he added in a statement.
“It is clear that IBA is held hostage by its Russian leadership and they are determined to keep the governing body under their control at any cost.”