Finland, Sweden refuse to participate in IBA sanctioned events with Russia and Belarus

The fallout over the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian fighter has begun.

The boxing federations of Sweden and Finland have now decided not to participate in any events where fighters from either Belarus and Russia are participating.

The IBA has recently issued a number of head scratching statements, including a suspension of the Ukraine boxing federation for not holding new elections, an ironic decision as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sites the same concern over the IBA.

Despite the IBA stance, three Ukrainian boxers on the junior Olympic team wore the blue and gold country flag at their medal ceremony in Montesilvano, Italy.

The IOC was wary of the ruling.

“The fact that the Ukrainian junior boxing team is not allowed to participate in the European Championship in Italy if they compete using national identifiers such as the national flag, anthem and any symbols of Ukraine adds to the many concerns expressed before,” the IOC said. The IBA relented and the boxers were able to display their country’s colors.

With Finland and Sweden announcing their boycotts of IBA events, it is expected that other countries will follow suit - especially throughout western Europe.

The IOC is extremely concerned about the situation in the federation (IBA),” the IOC told Reuters in a statement.

“Amongst other concerns, this includes the fact that the recognized Ukrainian National Boxing Federation was suspended shortly before the IBA Congress for disputed reasons.”

The IOC has already stripped the IBA of their authority for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and has removed boxing altogether from the preliminary LA28 Olympic Program, after continually expressing “grave concerns” over Kremlev’s leadership and the IBA’s governance.

The board said it would review the situation at its next meeting, scheduled for Dec. 5-7.