Boxing at the Olympics: This is the big point of contention between the IBA and IOC. (IMAGO / Xinhua / IMAGO / Jiang Wenyao)
“The first thing to do with a competition complaint is that you comply with the competition criteria. “That failed massively and was not successful,” says the sports director of the German Boxing Association, Michael Müller, criticizing the IBA’s complaint to the Swiss competition commission Weko. He alludes to the suspension of the International Boxing Federation due to non-transparent finances and corrupt refereeing.
“There is currently a reputable world association that takes care of Olympic boxing. This is World Boxing. And we are working very consistently with the IOC regarding the takeover of the Olympic rights and are on a very good path.”
“Boxing needs a new association”
Michael Müller sits on the Executive Committee of World Boxing. The federation, which was founded a year ago to compete with the IBA, currently has 28 members and is expected to have more than 50 by the end of the year. And the IOC is looking for a new association to host the boxing competitions.
After a chaotic IBA press conference during the Paris Olympics, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “The only thing I would like to say is that this press conference clearly shows that boxing needs a new association to organize boxing.”
The IOC organized the Olympic boxing competitions in Tokyo and Paris. A different solution must be found for Los Angeles 2028. “We want boxing to be on the agenda in LA. I do, and now it’s up to the boxing community to organize themselves and advocate for the sport and the athletes.”
Accusation: monopoly
The IBA is not a serious partner for the International Olympic Committee. The International Boxing Federation has already tried to have the exclusion from the IOC lifted before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Court. Now comes the next attempt before the Swiss competition authority Weko. In a formal complaint, the IBA accuses the IOC of unfairly dominating the global market for organizing and marketing the Olympics.
The IOC is using its influence to prevent boxers from participating in the Olympics if their national federation is affiliated with the IBA, which violates the norms of fair competition under Swiss law.
The antitrust lawyer Mark E. Orth gives the complaint a chance of success: “If you look at this ECJ Super League case, the ECJ said that the dominant association – and that is definitely the IOC compared to the IBA – if If there are exclusion criteria for entry, he must first define them objectively, transparently and without discrimination and then apply them. And when you look at the facts, you have certain doubts as to whether they are clearly defined, objective and do not leave too much room for interpretation.”
IBA stylistic device: money
Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, ComCo and the Swiss Federal Court often adhere to the decisions of the ECJ. And the IBA could further annoy the Olympic movement: citing antitrust law, the world association could lodge a complaint with the European Commission or go to civil court.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has called on all National Olympic Committees to suspend their boxing federations if they belong to the IBA. The World Boxing Association sees this as a further argument for its complaints. He offers legal and financial support to the affected federations.
Money is the tool with which the International Boxing Federation IBA wants to consolidate its existence. Michael Müller already had this experience when Umar Kremlev took over as IBA President in 2020: “He invested in prize money, instead of, for example, in professional judges, in order to achieve a fair and transparent competition system and clean, fair judgments for the athletes to enable. And therefore the tendency of this association has shifted massively towards the professional sector.”
Michael Müller is sports director at DBV and is a member of the executive board of World Boxing. (IMAGO / Norbert Schmidt / IMAGO / Norbert SCHMIDT)
And to remain attractive even without the Olympics, President Umar Kremlev is investing millions of euros. Money that comes from the Russian energy company Gazprom. Around 2.5 million euros flowed to Africa, including for the promotion of athletes, training of coaches, organization of competitions and prize money.
New associations – also in Germany
The result: the oath of loyalty from Eyassu Wossen, President of the African Boxing Federation AFBC. He is quoted in an IBA press release: “I express my full support for the International Boxing Federation and stand with the AFBC in our shared commitment to securing the future of boxing. We strongly reject the injustices and interference of the IOC in the affairs of the IBA and the AFBC.”
Another means: In some countries in the World Boxing family, the IBA has recognized a second association. In Brazil, the Czech Republic, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia – and also in Germany: The German Boxing Association (GBNA) is an artificial product of the IBA. “Then a second association has now been founded which, according to its own statement, is massively financed by the IBA and is therefore not a partner or competitor for us,” says Michael Müller.
The GNBA did not respond to a Deutschlandfunk request. But according to their website, their only goal is to take part in the financially lucrative IBA competitions. Only the DBV is recognized as a boxing association by the German Olympic Sports Confederation. It remains a tough battle.
