IOC President Bach says IOC trying to get boxing back in Tokyo

World
Europe

00:51

In the latest twist to the ongoing uncertainty over the Olympic future of boxing, which has recently been plagued by allegations of wrongdoing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it will work hard to make sure the sport is included for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach said on Saturday, “We want to have a boxing tournament in the Tokyo Games, and we will make all efforts to have one.”

Earlier, the IOC announced on Friday it was halting preparations for boxing at the 2020 Games, and launching a probe into the sport's troubled governing body, AIBA, after they elected Gafur Rakhimov as president last month.

There are allegations of heroin trafficking against the newly-elected AIBA boss, even though it's not been proven.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (C) poses for photos with other officials ahead of an IOC Executive Board meeting in Tokyo on Dec. 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Toshiro Muto, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee CEO, told the media after the meeting on Saturday that preparations for a boxing program are going ahead as planned.

The IOC has launched an inquiry into the finance, governance, and ethics of AIBA, which could result in the establishment of an Olympic boxing tournament outside of AIBA's control.

However, on Saturday, the IOC President said he couldn't promise that the sport would be part of the event, but did also mention, “We will make all efforts to protect the athletes as we always do.”

Meanwhile, the AIBA remarked that it was “pleased” by the fact that the IOC's Executive Board had “acknowledged” its progress, despite the unprecedented decision to freeze preparations.

As the stopping of all official contact between AIBA and 2020 organizers poses big logistical problems, ticket sales, test event planning, and finalizing the competition schedule are also halted.

(With input from agencies.)