Philippines’ Aira Villegas celebrates after defeating France’s Wassila Lkhadiri in their women’s 50kg quarterfinal boxing match at the Paris Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said on Friday his organization would decide in the first half of next year whether or not boxing will be allowed at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Boxing has come under intense scrutiny at the Paris Olympics after a furor over the gender of two women fighters after it emerged they had been disqualified from the world championships last year but deemed eligible to compete in Paris.
One of the two, Algerian fighter Imane Khelif, is going for gold in her final later Friday against China’s Li Qian. The other, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, fights in her final on Saturday.
READ: IOC backs boxers at Paris Olympics who failed gender tests
The issue has been further complicated because the IOC is running the boxing competition in Paris due to deep concerns it has about the governance of the Russian-led International Boxing Association.
Bach has already warned in Paris that boxing’s national federations need to find a new and “reliable” international partner for the IOC to be sure the sport features on the program for 2028.
On Friday, Bach said the IOC would take the decision on its inclusion in the first half of 2025.
READ: IOC puts boxing ‘on hold’ for 2028 LA Olympics
“I think the answer is at some point in the next year, as soon as possible but I don’t think we can expect a final decision before next year,” Bach said.
“I hope we’ll have an answer in the first half of next year.”
Asked again about whether the IOC was prepared to consider reviewing the gender issue that has dogged the Paris competition, Bach said: “We have said from the very beginning, if someone is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it.
“We do not like this uncertainty. We do not like it for the overall situation so we would be more than pleased to look into it.
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“But what is not possible that someone is saying this is not a woman just by looking at somebody or by falling prey to a defamation campaign by a not credible organization with highly political interest.”
