Boxing Themselves Out

There's been a lot of behind-the-scenes drama plaguing Olympic boxing over the past few years.  Boxing's international federation has so many problems, in fact, that the IOC stripped it of its official status in the leadup to the Tokyo Games and ended up organizing the boxing tournaments in Tokyo itself.  That will be the case again in Paris.  As for LA and beyond, boxing's in a very precarious position.

When the IBA (International Boxing Association) first had its recognition revoked in 2019, the IOC was basically telling them they needed to get their act together or their place on the Olympic program could be at risk.  Four years later, they still haven't gotten the message.  The IOC claimed it had no other choice and has already recommended the IBA's permanent withdrawal, with the vote set to be taken later this week at the end of the IOC Session.

The IBA obviously hasn't taken the news well, calling the entire process "truly abhorrent and purely political" while also stressing that some of the recommended changes have already been implemented.  They filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have the IOC vote delayed, but it was denied and the vote is still set to take place this week.  It does seem likely that CAS will eventually have a full hearing regarding the IBA's status as boxing's official, recognized international federation, though.

In response to the IBA's status being stripped by the IOC, a rival body called "World Boxing" was formed.  The IOC doesn't recognize World Boxing, either, calling it a "rogue organization."  So, like I said, it's a mess.  Without an IOC-recognized international federation to organize and run the tournament, boxing's place on the Olympic program is very much in jeopardy.

Boxing's not the only sport in trouble with the IOC.  While not as disorganized as boxing, weightlifting has had its share of issues, as well.  And weightlifting's place in the Olympics beyond next summer in Paris is also teetering.  So is modern pentathlon's.  They were ordered by the IOC to drop riding as one of the disciplines and are in the midst of trying to figure out what to replace it with, as they desperately try to stay in the Olympics.

All three weren't included on the list of "core" sports for 2028.  Instead, the IOC wants to add skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing in their place.  Since the Olympic Charter stipulates that there are only 28 "core" sports that must be included on the Olympic program, three sports would need to go for skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing to be included.  So, the concern for boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon is very real.

Being dropped from the list of Olympic "core" sports would be catastrophic in so many ways.  First and foremost, if you're not a "core" sport, there's no guarantee you'll be included at an Olympics.  It would be entirely up to the host organizers.  More significantly, however, not being a "core" sport would be a massive financial blow.  IOC revenue is only distributed among the 28 "core" sports (on a tiered structure...Tier I sports like swimming and track & field get the most, modern pentathlon gets the least).  For a lot of sports, those funds they receive from the IOC are their lifeblood, and often make up a significant portion of their budget for the entire quadrennium.  

Now, there's still a chance that all three sports can maintain their places in the Olympics.  About a decade ago, the IOC tried to drop wrestling in order to make room for another sport.  The backlash was so great that when the vote on which sport to replace it with took place, wrestling won overwhelmingly and kept its place.  (And, to its credit, wrestling took the IOC's suggestions, did improve itself, and is once again securely on the list of "core" sports.)

Barring a change to the Olympic Charter that expands the list of "core" sports, it seems like it least one, if not all three, of the vulnerable sports will be removed from the program.  The IOC has made no secret that it wants to increase its appeal with the younger demographic.  Skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing all fit the bill in that area, and they all successfully debuted in Tokyo.  So, you can bet that there'll be a push for all three of them to become permanent fixtures starting in 2028.

Which means next summer's Games in Paris very well may be the final Olympic appearance for the three vulnerable sports.  For modern pentathlon, it almost certainly will be.  Frankly, the only reason the sport hasn't been dropped from the Olympic program already is out of respect to Pierre de Coubertin.  The founder of the Modern Olympics also created the modern pentathlon, which hasn't been "modern" in quite some time and is the least-popular Summer Olympic sport among virtually every metric.

Picturing the Olympics without modern pentathlon is actually fairly easy.  Picturing the Olympics without boxing or weightlifting though?  I actually can't!  With the exception of 1912, there's been a boxing tournament at every Olympics since 1904.  Weightlifting was one of the sports contested at the first Modern Olympics in 1896 and has been a regular part of the program since 1920.  Both sports have so much history that it's virtually impossible to think of the Olympics without them.

Unfortunately, the problems plaguing both sports may be too much to overcome.  Boxing's situation is the result of bad governance and financial mismanagement.  Weightlifting's biggest issue is performance-enhancing drugs.  They've done everything they can to keep the sport clean, suspending athletes and entire national teams for doping, but it's still a massive stigma.  Although, they're at least trying, which is more than I can say for boxing and its defiance.

Of course, even if they're dropped from the "core" sports list, there's still a chance that boxing and weightlifting could be added by a host committee for their specific Olympics.  Both sports have a number of weight classes, though, which means a lot of athletes.  And, with the IOC getting stricter about athlete quotas, that would mean a massive reduction in the number of weight classes/athletes.  Not to mention no Olympic guarantee moving forward (just ask baseball/softball and karate about that).

However, while it would be sad and jarring to see boxing and/or weightlifting removed from the Olympic program, they'd have nobody to blame for their respective fates but themselves.  Boxing was given a chance to clean up its mess and chose not to.  So, should the sport be dropped from the list of "core" sports (or even out of the Olympics entirely), it would be boxing's own fault.