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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke won't defend World crowns as IABA takes stand

World champions Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke will not be defending their crowns at the 2023 World championships in India.

The women's championships take place next month in New Delhi but the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) have taken the stance not to send a team to the tournament.

Broadhurst and O'Rourke made history in Istanbul last May by joining Katie Taylor, Michael Conlan and Kellie Harrington as world champions in the ring - and they earned €86,000 apiece for their winning efforts.

READ MORE: 2022 - A record breaking year for Irish women in sport

Equally, the IABA will not be represented in the men's championships in Uzbekistan in May.

Following in the footsteps of the USA and with a host of European nations expected to follow suit, the IABA's council members voted to boycott both championships due to alleged corruption in the International Boxing Association (IBA).

The vote was taken against a backdrop of support from Sport Ireland and the Government not to compete following the IBA's move to enable Russian and Belarussian boxers compete under their own flag in India.

With boxing's place in future Olympic Games under serious threat, the IABA is a member of the Common Cause Alliance.

But it was decided against a collective boycott, with each member association free to decide on a course of action.

“The IABA urges the IBA to engage in governance reform and implement the recommendations of its own experts on fiscal responsibility, fair play, and inclusion,” read an IABA statement.

“IBA practices and activities are not of the standard required to secure our sport’s future. There are no winners in the current landscape.

"All members deserve a level playing field in tournaments run to the highest possible standard by an organisation which has their welfare, their futures, and their sport at its heart.

“The IABA and its athletes are focused on preparations for the European Games in June, and winning qualification to Paris 2024. That preparation will include training camps, sparring camps and tournaments with sister federations.

"The IABA will continue to create opportunities for training, development, and competition for its boxers, nationally and internationally, across all age groups.”

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