Giving them the boot the right decision – Samuda
Published:Thursday | April 4, 2024 | 12:13 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Olympic Association, Christopher Samuda, explained that he wasn’t surprised by the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) move to de-recognise the International Boxing Association (IBA).
According to Samuda, the CAS’s stance was clearly defined and was at odds with the operations of the IBA.
“The rejection by the Court of Arbitration of the appeal by the International Boxing Association against the IOC, stripping it of recognition, isn’t surprising given the IOC’S declared stance over the years on governance, transparency, integrity, and sustainability, which clearly was embraced by CAS as fundamental to the rule of law in sport,” he stated.
Yesterday, Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, while speaking with reporters in Switzerland, explained that it looked highly unlikely that boxing would retain its status as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States, bearing in mind the need to form a new body to organise the sport.
“Because of the universality and high social inclusivity of boxing, the IOC wants it to continue to feature on the programme of the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, this is far from certain for the Olympic Games LA2028 because for governance reasons, the IOC is not in a position to organise another Olympic Boxing tournament. To keep boxing on the Olympic programme, the IOC needs a recognised and reliable International Federation as a partner as with all the other Olympic sport. The IOC needs to have a partner international federation for boxing by early 2025,” explained Bach.
The IOC had already stripped the IBA of its right to participate in the 2021 Olympics, which was hosted in Tokyo, Japan, and for this next year’s staging set for Paris, France.
The IOC, in the past, has had issues with the IBA in regards to the integrity of sport along with frequent battles with its Russian president Umar Kremlev. Samuda said had the IBA conducted itself within the rules of the sport then the IOC wouldn’t have had to make those tough decisions.
“The rules of the game along with the principles and values in sport must govern our steps accordingly. If one stays in their lane, stays on course and doesn’t lose focus, then there’ll be no violation for which you’ll be sanctioned,” said Samuda.
Samuda further shared that the move would send a strong message to other governing bodies in sport in a bid to have them act accordingly.
“The decision of CAS reinforces a culture in sport which the IOC is telegraphing that inescapably will categorise policy making in sport and the management of international relations in the context of good governance.”