The International Boxing Association (IBA) has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on his inauguration, expressing gratitude and hope for collaboration in advancing boxing and safeguarding the principles of fair play in sports.
In its statement, IBA praised the legislation passed by the U.S. Congress restricting transgender athletes' participation in women’s competitions. According to IBA, this decision aligns with the association's policy to preserve the integrity of gender categories and promotes fairness and equality in sports competitions.
The association also expressed concern over the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to exclude boxing from the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. IBA criticized the move as a result of political influence and poor governance, negatively impacting the development of sports and athletes’ rights.
IBA emphasized its readiness to collaborate with President Trump’s administration to bring the World Boxing Championships back to the United States, where it was last held in 2007 in Chicago. The association expressed confidence that under Trump’s leadership, sports could strengthen their role as tools of peace and unity.
“We hope that boxing will become part of the celebrations of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and believe this event will demonstrate the genuine love of the American nation and the entire world for our sport,” the IBA statement said.
The association urged the IOC to reconsider its decisions to revive the Olympic movement, ensure fair conditions for athletes, and restore boxing to its rightful place on the global sports stage.