NEWS

WORLD BOXING ENTRUSTS THE ITA TO DESIGN AND INDEPENDENTLY MANAGE A COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-DOPING PROGRAM FOR ITS ATHLETES

World Boxing has secured an agreement with the International Testing Agency (ITA) for it to provide all of its anti-doping services and clean sport activities.

The agreement means that from 1 October 2024, World Boxing has delegated its entire clean sport activities to the ITA with the aim of providing boxers with a high-quality anti-doping program.

The initial 4-year contract between World Boxing and the ITA also includes independent results management for any potential anti-doping rule violations that may arise.

In its efforts to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and with the desire to offer its athletes an expert and independent anti-doping program, World Boxing has entrusted the ITA to design and implement a new anti-doping programme as of 1 October 2024, while also supporting the organisation in attaining Code Signatory status.

The ITA will manage the entire testing program for World Boxing, both for in-competition and out-of-competition doping controls. These tests will be based on a bespoke risk assessment that takes into account all relevant factors, including the physiological profile and sporting specificities of boxing.

The management of Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs) of boxing athletes and the processing of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) will also be handled by the ITA. In addition, it will strengthen World Boxing’s anti-doping efforts with a long-term sample retention strategy that will allow selected samples to be stored and re-analysed for up to ten years after the date of collection.

In order to provide boxing athletes with the most comprehensive anti-doping program possible, the ITA will complete the World Boxing anti-doping program with intelligence & investigations activities and respond to all information shared confidentially through the ITA’s secure reporting platform REVEAL.

All clean sport activities on behalf of World Boxing will be conducted by the ITA in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its International Standards, with the ITA’s dedicated Regulatory Compliance unit ensuring full compliance with the mandatory rules. All potential anti-doping rule violations arising from the anti-doping program will be subject to independent results management by the ITA.

The ITA will also raise awareness of doping, support the values of clean sport, and contribute to the prevention of doping among boxing athletes by establishing an education plan in line with WADA’s International Standard for Education.

“We welcome World Boxing as our newest partner at the ITA,” said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “Our dedicated team remains committed to contribute to the implementation of a robust and trustworthy clean sport program for boxing athletes all over the world as is already the case with ITA’s management of other key boxing tournaments, including all Olympic boxing competitions. With a proven track record of managing anti-doping programs for various combat sports, the ITA is well versed in tailoring strategies to the specific needs of these athletes. We are committed to supporting all athletes with the best independent clean sport measures possible and ensure fair competition in sport.”

The Secretary General of World Boxing, Simon Toulson, added: “World Boxing is committed to sporting integrity and clean sport.  The ITA is a widely respected organisaiton and  having this relationship in place will ensure that World Boxing is able to deliver a comprehenisve program of testing in and out of competition and provide educaton to National Federations and ther boxers on the importance of clean sport.”

Mongolia tops medal table at World Boxing Cup: Ulaanbaatar 2024

The boxing action ended today with the final bouts in all eleven weight categories taking place on the final day of the World Boxing Cup: Ulaanbaatar 2024. Host nation Mongolia secured the most medals with a haul made up of 4 gold, 4 silver and 13 bronze medals.

China was the second most successful nation at the event with 6 medals, closely followed by Japan who finished with 5 medals.

The full list of gold medallists at the World Boxing Cup: Ulaanbaatar 2024 is:

Women’s 50kg: KINOSHITA Rinka, Japan

Women’s 54kg: OYUNTSETSEG Yesugen, Mongolia

Women’s 57kg: YOSHIZAWA Satsuki, China

Women’s 60kg: MONKHOR Namuun, Mongolia

Women’s 66kg: LI Shu, China

Men’s 51kg: LIU Chuang, China

Men’s 57kg: KHARKHUU Bilguunsaikhan, Mongolia

Men’s 63.5kg: NISHIYAMA Shion, Japan

Men’s 71kg: BATTUMUR Misheelt, Mongolia

Men’s 80kg: WAKAYA Go, Japan

Men’s 92+kg: OUCHAOU Amin Younes, Germany

The four-day competition was the first World Boxing Cup event to be held in Asia and was hosted by the Mongolian Boxing Federation and World Boxing.

The event in Ulaanbaatar was the third World Boxing Cup of 2024 following events in Sheffield, England in January and Colorado, USA in April. The World Boxing Cup end-of-year Finals event for 2024 will be held at English Institute of Sport Sheffield, England from 27-30 November 2024.

World Boxing welcomes decision by Kazakhstan Boxing Federation to apply for membership

World Boxing has welcomed the decision by the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation to apply for membership of World Boxing.

The decision to apply follows the announcement today (26 September 2024) that the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan and 2004 Olympic silver medallist and two-time middleweight world champion, Gennadiy Golovkin, has been appointed Chair of a new Olympic Commission by World Boxing.

Following this announcement, the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation today issued a statement HERE which said: “Kazakhstan Boxing Federation has made an important decision as a result of lengthy discussions and analysis.

“Kazakhstan submitted an official application to join the World Boxing organization.

This decision is primarily related to the Olympic future of domestic boxers.”

The statement went on to include a quote from the President of Kazakhstan Boxing Federation, Shahmurat Mutalip.

He said: “Now the issue of boxing’s remaining in the Olympic program is being discussed at the NOC level. We are ready to work together with all countries in order to preserve boxing in the Olympic Games program. We believe that this decision will allow boxing to further develop.

“During the meeting with Gennadiy Golovkin, Chairman of the World Boxing Olympic Commission, President of the National Olympic Committee, we discussed ways to develop domestic boxing.”

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “World Boxing welcomes this decision and we look forward to working closely with both the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation and the Chair of our new Olympic Commission, Gennadiy Golovkin, on the future development and growth of our organisation as we pursue our mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“Kazakhstan is one of the most consistently successful nations in Olympic-style boxing and I have no doubt that having its National Federation as a member will be a major boost to World Boxing and have a significant impact on our presence in Asia as we look to diversify and grow our global footprint.”

President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Gennadiy Golovkin appointed Chair of new Olympic Commission by World Boxing

The President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan and 2004 Olympic silver medallist and two-time middleweight world champion, Gennadiy Golovkin, has been appointed Chair of a new Olympic Commission by World Boxing, the International Federation established to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

As Chair of the new Commission, Golovkin will work closely with World Boxing’s leadership to manage the organisation’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and oversee the pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the sport programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Other members of the Commission will be added in the coming weeks to ensure it is diverse and representative of the global boxing community.

Launched in April 2023, World Boxing currently has 44 National Federations as members and held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024. 

The main areas of focus of the new Olympic Commission, in developing a pathway for boxing to be restored to the Olympic programme, will be:

  • World Boxing promotion
  • Membership and recruitment
  • Financial sustainability
  • Support the IOC process for recognition of World Boxing

After a hugely successful boxing career, which saw him win a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the middleweight world title twice in a professional career made-up of 42 wins, two losses and a draw, Golovkin was appointed the President of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee in 2024.

In this role he expects the National Federation for boxing in Kazakhstan to lead by example as a full member of World Boxing.

On his appointment as Chair of World Boxing’s Olympic Commission, Golovkin said: “For me personally, as well as for all the sports world, it is important to preserve boxing as an Olympic sport, and this will be my top priority. I also intend to work closely with the IOC on issues of boxing’s commitment to the Olympic values ​​of honesty, fairness and transparency.

“I am confident that my experience as a professional athlete will help build systemic work within World Boxing, and through joint efforts we will be able to give boxing a new impetus to its development, but there is still much to be done.”

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “Gennadiy is one of the most globally significant boxers of the last decade and to have him supporting our cause and using his experience, expertise and profile to work on behalf of World Boxing is a significant boost for our organisation.

“As someone that had a hugely successful career in both Olympic-style and professional boxing, Gennadiy has a deep knowledge of the sport and completely understands why continuing to be part of the Olympic Movement is so vital to the ongoing success of boxing at every level, from the grassroots to the professional ranks.

“Gennadiy will be a huge asset to our organisation and I look forward to working closely with him in delivering our mission to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signaled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

Liverpool in England wins bid to host inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025

Liverpool in England has been selected as the host city for the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 for Elite men and women.

The Championships, which will take place from 4 – 14 September 2025 at the M&S Bank Arena, will be the first Elite-level global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation which has been set-up to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both men and women and will be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of world champion at the same event.

The precise weight categories will be finalised in the new edition of World Boxing’s Competition Rules which will be published following its forthcoming Congress in November 2024.

The bid to host the World Boxing Championships 2025 was developed by a group of partners including England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena and is supported by the National Lottery and UK Sport. 

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was the location for the European Boxing Championships in 2008.  More recently it hosted the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup and the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships at the M&S Bank Arena and The Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool in 2023.  The arena also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst said: “Liverpool is a globally famous city with a proud heritage in boxing and it will be a fantastic place to host our first ever Elite World Boxing Championships. This will be a superb showcase for the sport of Olympic boxing, particularly as it will be the first time ever that the men and women’s competition will run alongside each other as part of the same Championships.

“I would like to thank all of our partners in Great Britain and the city of Liverpool for their enthusiasm and support in wanting to stage these Championships and I look forward to working closely with all of them to deliver what will be a historic event for the boxers and for our sport.”

Jerome Pels, Chief Executive, England Boxing added: “The World Boxing Championships is not just another big sporting event – it is a game-changer for us. It is a strategic initiative that aligns with our goals of establishing a unified international governing body, inspiring the next generation of boxers, boosting participation, and strengthening communities through boxing. We are thrilled to host this event and confident it will have a huge, lasting impact on both our organisation and the future of the sport itself.”

Esther Britten, Head of Events & External Affairs at UK Sport added: “We are delighted to be supporting the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool next year, an event which will support efforts to help the sport establish a long-term future in the Olympic movement. After the incredible summer of sport, having the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd is a huge boost for our boxers. We look forward to working with our event hosting partners to deliver this exciting event.”

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Health, said: “It is a huge coup for Liverpool to be hosting theWorld Boxing Championships. This is a massive global sporting event and one which the city is proud to be welcoming. Liverpool has a long, historic connection with boxing and we are delighted to be playing our part in what will be a pivotal step for the future of the sport. We also look forward to working with our communities and boxing clubs to ensure that we can support the future grassroots development of boxing in the city. Our winning bid also underlines the city’s appeal and ability to showcase the world’s best, and I’m sure these world championships will be just as popular as those we staged for Gymnastics and Netball”.

Ben Williams, Commercial & Business Development Director at M&S Bank Arena commented: “We are delighted to be hosting this auspicious event. Liverpool loves boxing and we intend to use our world-class facilities and vast experience of hosting major events to put on the best show for visitors from across the globe. As a venue based on Liverpool’s famous waterfront, in the heart of a city that is immersed in sport, we’re perfectly positioned to provide a fantastic experience.”

Matt Holt, Chief Executive of GB Boxing, the organisation which manages the Olympic programme for boxing in Great Britain, added: “Having a major international tournament, especially the inaugural World Boxing Championships, on home soil is fantastic news for the boxers in our squad. Being part of the GB Boxing squad often means regularly competing abroad, so the chance to box in a world championship at home presents is great for the boxers and I am sure they will all be very keen to make the most of this opportunity.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.  On 7 May 2024 it held its first meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration between the two organisations aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

World Boxing currently has 44 members covering all five Continents that compete in international boxing. Its membership is expected to have grown significantly by September 2025.

Entry details for World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield 2024

There are ten days left to submit entries for the World Boxing Cup Finals which are set to take place at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield from 27-30 November 2024.

The competition, which is being hosted by England Boxing and World Boxing in association with GB Boxing, will be the culmination of the World Boxing Cup series for 2024 when the stage winners and other top-ranked boxers from this year’s events will compete for the World Boxing Cup Trophy.

To secure your place in the competition, contact:

sheffield2024@gbboxing.org.uk

00 44 114 223 5613

Japan and Algeria are the latest two National Federations to join World Boxing and support its efforts to keep the sport at the heart of the Olympic Movement

The National Federations for boxing in Japan and Algeria have become the latest two countries to join World Boxing.

It means the new International Federation, which was established to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement, now has 44 members covering all five Continents that compete in international boxing.

Japan and Algeria take the number of countries that have joined World Boxing since the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to seven and follows the recent approval of membership applications from Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador.

All of the National Federations have completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, able to demonstrate:

  • A transparent and open election process for the appointment of office bearing roles
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes
  • Evidence of a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process that is either fully independent or subject to external input
  • Formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport
  • A solid national and international boxing sports programme

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “The additions of Japan and Algeria enhance the global profile of World Boxing by increasing our presence in Asia and Africa. Their decision to join World Boxing is further evidence of the widespread desire for change that exists across our sport and illustrates how important it is that we retain boxing’s place at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“We are continuing to process applications from a number of countries and it is clear that more and more National Federations recognise that joining World Boxing is the only way they can ensure that their boxers will be able to continue to pursue their dream of competing on the biggest stage in sport at the Olympic Games.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

World Boxing receives post-Olympic boost with announcement of five new member National Federations

The National Federations for boxing in Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador have become the latest five countries to join World Boxing, the new International Federation which has been established to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

The new additions provide a significant boost to World Boxing in the aftermath of the 2024 Olympic Games and mean it now has 42 member National Federations covering all of the five Continents that compete in international boxing.

Further membership announcements are expected in the coming weeks after World Boxing’s leaders held a series of meetings with the heads of multiple National Federations in the course of the recent boxing tournament at Paris 2024.

Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador have all completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, able to demonstrate:

  • A transparent and open election process for the appointment of office bearing roles
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes
  • Evidence of a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process that is either fully independent or subject to external input
  • Formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport
  • A solid national and international boxing sports programme

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “I am very happy to welcome Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador to World Boxing and look forward to working closely with each of them in our efforts to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. 

“My colleagues and I at World Boxing had a very productive two weeks at the recent Olympic Games in Paris when we met the leaders of many National Federations and I am very confident that we will continue to receive more membership applications in the coming weeks. 

“It is clear there is a huge appetite for change in international boxing and that many National Federations now recognise the only way we can ensure that boxing has a future within the Olympic Movement is by joining World Boxing.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

Further information on World Boxing is available at www.worldboxing.org.