British boxers explain their decision to boycott the world championship

The British boxing team has confirmed that it won't participate in the upcoming world championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to a ruling by the International Boxing Association (IBA) to allow teams from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags. This decision "contravenes" the position of the International Olympic Committee, which has called for international sport federations to restrict Russian and Belarusian athletes to competing only as neutral individuals. GB Boxing condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has solidarity with the people, boxers, coaches and officials of Ukraine. However, the team will be competing in upcoming tournaments in Finland, Türkiye, and the Czech Republic. The IBA's decision not to ban the Russian and Belarusian teams has "put further distance between the IBA and the Olympic movement," GB Boxing said. The IBA is already facing pressure from the IOC to resolve "significant, longstanding issues over sporting integrity, governance, transparency and financial management" in order to protect boxing's place on the Olympic program.