Marina Li who was sent home mid-way during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and now the Private Secretary to President ASBC Interim President Mr. Aziz Kozhambetov is seen with Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage and BASL President Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara recently in Colombo.
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Sports could face a difficult dilemma if it approves the Sri Lanka Boxing Association’s request to host the ASBC Asia Under-22 Boxing Tournament in May 2025, as the event is set to be held under the International Boxing Association (IBA), a body currently banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
This decision could have serious repercussions, potentially barring Sri Lankan boxers from competing in any International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned events in future.
The SLBA remains affiliated with the IBA, which has been banned by the IOC due to corruption and governance failures, including the suspension of 36 referees and judges involved in fraud during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Incidentally, mong those suspended was Sri Lankan referee Udeni Kirideni. Furthermore, the SLBA is not a recognized member of the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee, adding to its growing challenges.
World Boxing Gains IOC Recognition, Leaving SLBA at a Crossroads
In a major shift, the IOC recently granted provisional recognition to World Boxing, a newly formed governing body established in 2023 as a breakaway organization from the IBA. The move is part of the IOC’s efforts to ensure boxing remains on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games program.
World Boxing has quickly gained traction, with 62% of boxers who competed at last year’s Paris Olympics affiliated with the organization. The IOC praised World Boxing’s governance reforms and commitment to Olympic standards, stating:
“World Boxing has demonstrated strong willingness and effort in enhancing good governance and implementation, to be compliant with the appropriate standards.”
Kazakh boxing legend Gennady Golovkin, who leads the commission overseeing World Boxing’s establishment, acknowledged the significance of this recognition but emphasized the need for continued progress:
“Receiving provisional Olympic recognition from the IOC is an important achievement and demonstrates that our sport is on the right path. This decision brings us one step closer to our main goal – preserving boxing at the Olympic Games.”
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019, citing concerns over governance, financial mismanagement, and judging integrity. In 2023, it completely expelled the IBA from the Olympic movement. Since then, the IOC has directly overseen boxing competitions at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics while searching for a new governing body to manage the sport for Los Angeles 2028.
However, the IBA and its Russian president, Umar Kremlev, continue to challenge the IOC, with recent disputes over eligibility rules in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. The IBA has even announced plans to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the United States, France, and Switzerland, further escalating tensions.
Sri Lanka at Risk of Exclusion from Major Tournaments
According to international sources, if the Sri Lanka Boxing Association does not join World Boxing, the country’s boxers could be excluded from key international events such as the South Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Olympic Games.
This looming threat comes at a turbulent time for SLBA, which recently suffered a major setback following the resignation of its Secretary, former DIG (Special Task Force) Saman Gunaratne.
Gunaratne, a highly respected figure in Sri Lankan boxing, stepped down citing a lack of transparency, honesty, and integrity within the SLBA.
SLBA Secretary Resigns, Citing Lack of Transparency
In his resignation letter, Gunaratne expressed his concerns:
“During my tenure, I had the opportunity to witness and contribute to the growth of Sri Lanka Boxing. However, I have observed certain instances of a lack of transparency that I believe could hinder the association’s progress. Transparency is a fundamental principle that fosters trust and collaboration among all Executive Committee members. It is my sincere hope that the association will continue to move forward with a strong commitment to openness and integrity.”
Speaking exclusively to The Morning Telegraph, Gunaratne elaborated on his decision:
“I joined the SLBA Executive Committee to offer my support. However, I soon realized that the SLBA was veering off course. Despite my best efforts to steer it back in the right direction, it proved to be an impossible task. As a result, I have decided to resign and walk away.”
With Sri Lanka’s boxing future hanging in the balance, the pressure is mounting on the SLBA to reconsider its alignment with the now-banned IBA and secure recognition under World Boxing, ensuring the nation’s boxers have a path to compete at the highest level.
