(AUG 31)  After a historic Olympic Boxing Tournament at Rio 2016, with 13 gold medals awarded at the end of 16 days of competition and 273 bouts, AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA Vice-Presidents and Commission Chairs convened in Lausanne for two days of meetings to reflect on events during the Olympics and the necessary reforms the organisation needs to undertake in order to build on the several groundbreaking changes implemented at Rio 2016.

“Since I became the President of AIBA, we have always been looking at ways in which we might progress the sport, pushing it further for the benefit of the National Federations and the boxers. Throughout boxing’s rich history, we have seen important changes that have defined the sport we love today, and I know that there are still improvements to be made. Now, we are holding strategic discussions between AIBA executives to lay down new milestones to maintain that positive evolution and vision,” said the AIBA President.

Within the new AIBA roadmap is the optimisation and improvement of the R&J structure, including the possible introduction of a five-judge scoring system and the review of management and certification processes for referees and judges. The proposed changes will be brought to the relevant commissions in the coming weeks for further review, approval and implementation by the Executive Committee.

The Commissions also addressed possible disciplinary action for violations of the AIBA Code of Conduct that occurred during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Individuals and associated Federations have been forwarded to the Disciplinary Commission for further investigation, with appropriate actions to follow. It is essential that the AIBA family operates under this Code that epitomizes the key values of our sport: respect, fairness, integrity and transparency.

Additionally, the Commissions recommended to the President a proposal for internal restructuring within AIBA itself to improve efficiency and communications and to better serve the AIBA family. The President immediately agreed to implement this proposal.

AIBA and the senior executives reiterated their unwaivering commitment to addressing the challenges facing boxing and to bringing solutions that will ensure the integrity of our sport is maintained at all times.