The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has condemned what it called the "illegal" suspension of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation from the world governing body, the IBA.
The IBA, run by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, suspended Ukraine last week in a move that meant the federation could not cast a vote at a meeting that decided not to hold a fresh presidential election.
The IBA does not recognise Kyrylo Shevchenko as president of the Ukrainian federation but instead considers Volodymyr Prodyvus, an ally of Kremlev who left Ukraine after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February and is now an IBA vice-president, as head.
In an unprecedented move this week, the Ukrainian junior boxing team were told they must compete under the IBA flag at the European championships in Italy.
Several bouts were decided by walkover after Ukrainian boxers refused to enter the ring, with others withdrawing in solidarity.
In statement today, Irish federation the IABA said it "condemns, utterly and without reservation, the illegal suspension of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation from the world governing body, the IBA.
"The fact that the IBA has suspended the Ukrainian Boxing Federation for alleged government interference shows the continued vulnerability of boxing's world governing body to external forces and influence. It is the latest in a series of acts and decisions by the IBA which do not align with boxing’s core values and which show that the legacy of its predecessor, AIBA, lingers.
"The IBA took the decision to suspend the Ukrainian Boxing Federation on September 23rd . This matter was not referred for consideration by federations attending the IBA Conference in Yerevan, two days later. In so doing, the IBA violated Article 13.3 of its own constitution and imposed the will of certain decision makers in the organisation on a federation in good standing without providing any evidence to support its allegation.
"The Irish Athletic Boxing Association notes the statement issued by IBA on Friday evening , that "Sports is out of politics: where it begins, politics ends." In its actions in recent days, the IBA has shown this not to be its position.
"The IABA, and Irish Boxing, stands in solidarity with our sister federation and calls for the immediate restoration of full IBA membership for the Ukrainian Boxing Federation.
"The unethical imposition of this illegal suspension by the IBA and its decision not to lay that suspension before the IBA Congress on September 25th is surpassed in gravity only by the IBA’s decision at that Congress not to permit a free and fair Presidential election to take place. Holding a vote to hold vote when the previous ballot was miss-run doesn’t stand up to even the most glancing of scrutiny.
"The IBA appears to be choosing a path away from Olympic boxing. As a result, the IABA calls for fresh IBA presidential elections at the earliest opportunity."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also voiced serious concerns on Friday over the IBA's ban of Ukraine's national federation, saying it would conduct a full review at its next meeting in December.
Boxing is already on the brink of losing its Olympic Games spot over governance, finance and refereeing issues dating back years.
The IBA was also stripped of involvement in last year's Tokyo Olympics, and the sport is not on the initial programme for the Los Angeles Games in 2028 pending a string of reforms demanded by the IOC. The IOC is running the boxing competitions for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"The IOC is extremely concerned about the situation in the federation (IBA)," the IOC said in a statement.
"Amongst other concerns, this includes the fact that the recognised Ukrainian National Boxing Federation was suspended shortly before the IBA Congress for disputed reasons."
The board said it would review the situation at its next meeting, scheduled for 5-7 December.
