Governance

World Boxing has appointed Tom Dielen as its new Secretary General to lead and manage its day-to-day operations on the path to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 (LA28).

In this role he led the development and execution of a strategic plan that transformed the International Federation from a sport at risk of Olympic exclusion into a credible, well-respected, financially stable model of innovation which was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Prior to this he held senior positions with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Fédération Internationale de Tir à l’Arc (FITA).

As part of his various roles in sport Dielen has also sat on numerous committees and boards within the Olympic Movement for a variety of organisations including the Association of Summer International Olympic Federations (ASOIF) the International World Games Association (IWGA) and the Association of Paralympic Sport Organisations (APSO).

The President of World Boxing, Gennadiy Golovkin, said: “Mr Dielen’s background in international sport aligns well with the responsibilities and expectations of our organisation. I am confident that this experience will strengthen our work and support its future development.”

Tom Dielen added: “I am really thrilled to start a new challenge in the Olympic Movement as Secretary General of World Boxing. From the first contact with Mr Golovkin, the President, there was a good feeling between the two of us and I thank him and the Board for this opportunity.

“I am looking forward getting to know the athletes of this truly universal sport. There are exciting moments ahead this year with events for young athletes in Thailand and of course Senegal. Then there will be the World Boxing Cup series events in Brazil, China and Uzbekistan for the athletes as they start their road to LA2028.

“In the coming months, I will start to expand the team to ensure a bright Olympic future for the sport. Let’s get in the ring and work on inspiring and engaging people to pursue a passion for boxing through integrity and excellence.”

Dielen has a Master of Engineering (Computer Science) from the Catholic University of Leuven and a Sport Management Degree from the Belgian Olympic Academy. He also holds a Sport Merit Award from the Catholic University of Leuven and is an Honorary Member of the Compagnie des Archers de Lausanne.

He competed in Field and 3D Archery at national level and is active in Tennis, Curling, Skiing and Cycling.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 25 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.

The President of World Boxing, Gennadiy Golovkin, has identified the importance of creating education programmes for officials as a key priority in the future development of the sport following a productive meeting with the leadership of the Continental Confederation for Europe, European Boxing,

The meeting covered a wide range of issues and developments within the sport including the future direction of European Boxing, opportunities for collaboration, and key development areas including governance, competitions and the use of technology.

On competitions, the meeting reviewed European Boxing’s recent activities, which included the successful delivery of both the U17 and U23 European Championships, and looked forward to the inaugural European Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, 15-26 September 2026.

Other areas of discussion included the importance of training seminars for Technical Officials and referees and judges; developments in the use of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in competitions; the commercial development of Olympic-style boxing and collaboration and closer alignment between World Boxing and European Boxing.

Following the meeting, the President of World Boxing, Gennadiy Golovkin, said: “I appreciate the strong engagement from European Boxing and the leadership shown by President Lars Brovil and his team. Europe has demonstrated that it can deliver high-quality events and high-level organisation — and that experience is critical as we build the next stage of World Boxing.

“At the same time, we know that credibility is built not only through competitions, but through people and standards. That is why education will be one of our key priorities: structured programmes for coaches, technical delegates, referees and judges, with clear pathways and consistent certification. Better education means better officiating, safer boxing, and greater trust from athletes and National Federations.”

Registration link: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Title: WB – Clean Sport Education Webinar for Coaches
Date: 5 February 2026
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 CET
Panellists: ITA Education Team

Clean Sport Education webinar hosted by the International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of World Boxing. Afsheen Panjalizadeh, WB Senior Competition Manager and Ervin Kade, Finland Boxing Federation and Member of World Boxing Coaches Commission, will be hosting alongside the ITA.

As trusted figures in an athlete’s life, coaches significantly influence their values and behaviours. Athletes depend on their entourage for reliable information and mentorship, making it important for you to understand the anti-doping rules and how to foster a culture of integrity in sport.

This webinar will outline the roles and responsibilities of coaches, offering practical tips for you to support your athletes, protect yourself and serve as a role model for clean sport. Join us as we work together to Keep Sport Real and bring your questions for the live Q&A!

This webinar will be delivered in English, with and automated translated captions available, and all attendees will receive a PDF of the webinar presentation, including links to the resources covered.

Registration link: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Title: Ask the Expert: Nutrition
Date: 29 January 2026
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 CET
Panellists: ITA Education Team

World Boxing members are invited to take part in an ITA ‘Ask the Expert’ Webinar on nutrition on 29 January 2026, featuring Professor Louise Burke, IOC Diploma Programme in Sports Nutrition and Australian Catholic University Director.

This session will provide an overview of the topic, along with practical insights and expert answers to your questions.

The two-time middleweight world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist, Gennadiy Golovkin, has been named the new President of World Boxing at its Congress 2025 in Rome.

The Kazakh was the only candidate for the role on the final ballot paper and was named President by acclamation at the Congress.

Other candidates had put themselves forward in October 2025 to contest the Presidential election, however Golovkin was the only person approved to stand by an independent Vetting Panel, which assessed the backgrounds of all the candidates.

The Vetting Panel is made-up of three independent, external experts and supported by the leading independent provider of sport-specific arbitration and mediation services, Sport Resolutions, and is designed to ensure World Boxing adheres to the highest standards of governance by providing independent, third party checking and oversight of Congress and the election process.

Golovkin will serve an initial three-year term and succeeds Dutchman, Boris van der Vorst, who did not seek re-election following the completion of his term.

Gennadiy Golovkin, said: “It is a privilege to be elected as the new President of World Boxing. But this is just the beginning. Starting today, athletes will be at the heart of every decision we make. On the road to LA28, we will restore trust in Olympic boxing to secure our place in Brisbane and beyond. Now it’s time to move forward as one united boxing family.”

The Presidential election was one of four votes at the Congress which included one position as Vice President and two seats on the World Boxing Executive Board.

In the election for Vice President, Ryan O’Shea from Canada secured a second term with 57 per cent of the vote in a two-person contest with Thailand’s Chaiwat Chotima.

The election for the Executive Board had six candidates and saw Michael Muller from Germany and Tatsuya Nakama from Japan emerge with the most votes.

The four winners of today’s elections will join the World Boxing Executive Board which is made-up of the President; three Vice Presidents; four Executive Board members; four Continental Confederation Presidents; two Athlete Representatives; the Chairs of the Committees for Sport and Competition, Medical and Anti-Doping, and Finance and Audit.

Congress 2025 was chaired by World Boxing Vice President, Dinah Glykidis.  In accordance, with World Boxing’s Statutes, 59 National Federations were eligible to take part in the voting which was conducted in-person and online and overseen by an independent, third-party organisation. Scrutineers were onsite to validate the veracity of the election processes and ensure candidates were treated in a fair and equitable manner.

World Boxing Vice President and Chair of Congress 2025, Dinah Glykidis, said: “Congress is the ultimate authority of World Boxing and to have so many of our members be able to participate in it today and express their views on the future direction of the organisation is very important, and a positive sign that World Boxing is continuing to deliver on its commitment to transparency and rigorous governance.

“Since it was launched in April 2023, World Boxing has achieved an enormous amount in a short space of time and I am confident that with our new President and the Executive Board that we now have in place, following today’s elections, that it will continue to go from strength to strength as we build towards the next Olympic Games at LA28.”

Other business concluded at the World Boxing Congress 2025 included:

• Acceptance of a series of amendments to the Statutes of World Boxing following provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February 2025
• Ratification by Congress of the membership applications of 49 National Federations to join World Boxing
• Acceptance of a series of proposals which included the incorporation of World Boxing’s Sex Eligibility Policy into the Competition Rules and associated operational documents
• Approval of the 2025 Accounts and the provisional budget for 2026
• The acceptance of Panama’s bid to host World Boxing’s next annual Congress in 2026

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 25 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.

Born in 1982, Gennadiy Golovkin is widely considered to be Kazakhstan’s greatest ever boxer.  He won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 before entering the professional ranks where he won the middleweight world title twice in a career made-up of 42 wins, two losses and a draw.  He has been the President of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee since 2024.

The people that make up the Executive Board of World Boxing are:

Office	Name
President	Gennadiy Golovkin (KAZ)
Vice President	Ryan O’Shea (CAN)
Vice President	Matt Holt (GBR)
Vice President	Dinah Glykidis (AUS)
Executive Board	Michael Muller (GER)
Executive Board	Victorico Vargas (PHI)
Executive Board	Tatsuya Nakama (JPN)
Athlete Representative (Chair)	Caitlin Parker (AUS)
Athlete Representative (Vice Chair)	Richard Torrez Jr (USA)
President, Asian Boxing	Pichai Chunhavajira (THA)
President, European Boxing	Lars Brovil (DEN)
President, Oceania Boxing	Beulah Daunakamakama (FJI)
President, Panamerican Boxing	Elise Seignolle (USA)
Chair Sport and Competition Committee	Hernan Salvo (ARG)
Chair Medical and Anti-Doping Committee	Dr Armando Sanchez (USA)
Chair Finance and Audit Committee	Julia Felton (AUS)

The final list of candidates that will contest elections at World Boxing’s Congress 2025 in Rome on 23 November has been published (HERE) and includes nine candidates from nine countries.

In line with the processes set-out in World Boxing’s Statutes, Rules for Electoral Voting and Rules for Candidates of Elections (HERE), all of the candidates have been assessed and approved to stand by an Independent Vetting Panel made-up of three independent, external experts and supported by the leading independent provider of sport-specific arbitration and mediation services, Sport Resolutions.

The conclusions of the Independent Vetting Panel, which has reviewed the applications of all the men and women that initially put themselves forward for election in October 2025, means there is now one candidate for the office of President, Gennadiy Golovkin from Kazakhstan.

In accordance with World Boxing’s current Statutes (HERE), which state (Elections: Clause 11.15) “Unanimous acclamation from Congress can be accepted if there is only one candidate for any Office Bearing Position” , it means that Gennadiy Golovkin will become President of World Boxing by acclamation at the Congress on Sunday 23 November 2025 when he will assume the mantle from the incumbent President, Boris van der Vorst. 

In addition to the Presidency, the World Boxing Congress will include elections for one position as Vice-President and two places on the Executive Board. As part of the World Boxing’s commitment to transparency and rigorous governance, key papers from the Congress including a full list of candidates and details of their relevant experience and expertise can be viewed (HERE).

World Boxing’s Acting Secretary General Mike McAtee, said: “On behalf of World Boxing I would like to thank the Independent Vetting Panel for its diligent work and ensuring we have a list of candidates that are of the highest calibre, both in terms of their experience and capabilities and also their commitment to upholding the principles of integrity, honesty and excellence on which World Boxing has been founded.

“I have no doubt that every candidate has the potential to make a very positive contribution to the future development of the organisation and can play an important role in the future development of World Boxing and the sport of Olympic boxing.”

Congress is the ultimate authority and supreme decision-making body of World Boxing. The Congress in Rome on 23 November 2025 will be chaired by World Boxing Vice President, Dinah Glykidis, and the elections overseen by an experienced, independent, third-party organisation. Scrutineers will be onsite to validate the veracity of the election processes and ensure candidates are treated in a fair and equitable manner.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 25 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has published a report that outlines the anti-doping education activities they conducted during the 2025 World Boxing World Championships in Liverpool, England.

The ITA hosted a two-day education booth aimed at educating athletes and support personnel on anti-doping issues. ​

Participants learned about ADRVs, their rights and responsibilities, key doping control terms, and the Doping Control Process. ​The booth also covered the Prohibited List, consequences of doping, and the importance of reporting concerns. ​

The booth attracted up to 100 participants daily, with positive feedback highlighting the importance of the education provided. ​Overall success was rated 9/10, with high scores for awareness raising and information provision.

These activities helped continue to foster a greater understanding of clean sport among participants. Click HERE to read the full report (included within Anti-Doping).