PARIS (TVBS News) — International Olympic Committee (IOC, 國際奧林匹克委員會) President Thomas Bach (巴赫) announced on Saturday (Aug. 10) that the committee will decide in the first half of 2025 whether boxing will remain in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The IOC's decision comes amid ongoing concerns about gender controversies and governance issues within the sport.
Last year, two female boxers disqualified from the World Championships later secured spots in this year's Olympics, sparking a gender controversy. This incident has placed boxing under intense scrutiny for the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (克莉芙) won gold in the 66-kilogram final against China's Yang Liu (楊柳), while Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) bagged gold in the 57-kilogram final against Poland's Julia Szeremeta (瑟瑞梅塔). The IOC has taken over organizing the boxing events for the Paris Olympics due to governance concerns with the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA, 國際拳擊總會).
Bach emphasized the need for national boxing federations to find a new and reliable international partner to ensure the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. He stressed that If someone provides the IOC with a reliable scientific system to distinguish male and female athletes, the committee will adopt it to resolve the gender issues troubling the Paris Olympics.