The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has taken a step towards repairing a much-maligned governance structure that has been frequently criticized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after it approved an updated constitution at its virtual Congress.
Under the new constitution, AIBA has installed term limits, rebranded the Executive Committee to the Board of Directors and reduced the number of members on the ruling body from 32 to 22.
AIBA is hopeful the renewed document will appease the IOC, which last year suspended it as the Olympic governing body for the sport and stripped it of any involvement in the boxing tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because of concerns over its governance, finances and refereeing and judging.
The Inquiry Committee, led by IOC Executive Board member Nenad Lalović, said AIBA "has been and continues to be managed in disregard of basic principles of good governance required in accordance with the IOC Code of Ethics (2018 edition) and the Olympic Charter" in its May 2019 report.
AIBA was also accused of demonstrating a "clear absence of governance processes" in the report, used as the basis for suspending AIBA's Olympic recognition.
Newly-elected President Umar Kremlev has promised to resolve all the outstanding issues with the IOC "in the next three to four months", including making the required changes to its constitution.
Kremlev will hope today's decision will pave the way for improved relations with the IOC, but some within the governing body have suggested the updated constitution may not be sufficient for AIBA to have its status restored in time for Paris 2024.
The Russian, implicated in the IOC report last year, will be able to remain at the helm of the troubled Federation until 2030 under term limits given the green light as part of the package of reforms to the constitution.
The AIBA President will no longer have the power to appoint members of the Board of Directors as they will all have to be elected.
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