Algeria joins World Boxing to help keep sport in the Olympics

A month after Imane Khelif won gold in women's boxing at the Paris Olympics, Algeria has joined the World Boxing Group, according to the Associated Press. Japan also joined the group this week, bringing the total membership to 44 countries, with more applications in progress.

This move is critical for the future of boxing in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set an early deadline next year for the establishment of a credible alternative to the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was removed by the IOC in June 2023 due to governance issues.

In a statement from May, the IOC emphasized, “Olympic boxing needs to be organized by a credible, well-governed International Federation. It is already clear that any boxer affiliated with the IBA will not be able to compete in the Olympic Games LA28.”

The IBA's exclusion from the Olympics was due to concerns about financial transparency. It was also embroiled in a controversy over gender testing. Both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were disqualified by the IBA ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Championships over alleged failures in gender tests, but details remain scarce. The IOC, however, allowed both athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics.

The future of boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is still uncertain. World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst stated that Algeria and Japan's decision to join the World Boxing Group demonstrates a "widespread desire for change" and highlights the importance of keeping boxing within the Olympic movement.