THE Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is to sanction clubs whose boxers compete as guests of the International Boxing Association (IBA) at the upcoming World Youth Championships in Montenegro.
Earlier this week Ireland confirmed its eight-strong team bound for Budva, with the action running from Monday until November 6.
That team includes Clonard feather Jamie Graham, and features World junior champion Siofra Lawless, European junior champion Tadgh O’Donnell, European youth medallists Ryan Jenkins, Kyla Doyle Byrne and Adam Olaniyan, as well as Kayleigh Whelan and Avona lightweight Martin McDonagh.
However, the selection for the Worlds had been the subject of considerable scrutiny in recent weeks, with a host of talented boxers overlooked.
As a consequence, the controversial IBA offered places to 11 other Irish boxers, covering accommodation costs as is the case with all other federations. However, they will compete as neutrals - or “guests” of the IBA.
Those included are Tiffany Spencer (Jobstown), Carlagh Peake (Ballyhaunis), Niamh Keogh (Olympic Mullingar), Sarah Murphy (St Brigid’s, Kildare), Nell McLaughlin (Eagle), Antonio Bozyaka (East Meath), Sean McCusker (Dealgan), Marcus Barrett (Titans), Padraig Corduff (St Anne’s), Shay O’Dowd (Swords) and Tommy Stokes (Athlone).
They will be joined by a coaching team of Liam Brereton, James Gray and Paddy Phelan. None of the 11 compete at the same weight as any of those on the Irish team.
The matter was briefly discussed at Saturday’s EGM at the National Stadium, when Niall O’Carroll – chair of the IABA board of directors – revealed that none of the individual boxers would be sanctioned.
Later, club delegates voted to remove all references to the IBA from the IABA constitution, subject to approval at next month’s AGM.
“I was approached by coaches and parents, and all of them shared with me reasons why their boxer should have been selected,” said O’Carroll, “and I couldn’t argue with any of the points they made to me.
“I certainly, as a non-boxing person, was not going to walk into a meeting with anyone and say ‘you made the wrong decision, you picked the wrong boxer’. But what I did tell all those people I would take those concerns to the coaching commission, and have a conversation around did they follow the processes, their terms of reference and their criteria.
“Having had that meeting, I was satisfied they had followed protocols… however, some of the behaviour – particularly online – since then has been outrageous.”
Upon announcement of the team that will box under the IBA banner, the IABA issued a subsequent statement, hitting out at IBA for seeking to “create confusion and controversy”.
“IABA is aware that there is a group of athletes, who are members of IABA, who have sought to participate in the 2024 IBA World Youth Championships under the IBA’s neutral athlete mechanism.
“IABA has communicated with IBA on this matter, to state that the only team representing Ireland is the team submitted by IABA through the appropriate channels. IABA is responsible for selecting Team Ireland at all benchmark tournaments.
“In accordance with international federation rules, only one team per federation is permitted to represent their country of origin. It is unprecedented for IBA to accept a team under the neutral athlete mechanism in a tournament which is being contested by that group’s federation of origin.
“It is the view of the IABA that this course of action has been chosen by the International Federation to create confusion and controversy. IABA has not granted permission to travel to this group of athletes or their support staff. Furthermore, IABA has communicated sanctions leviable in such instances to all clubs.
“Where there are children and young adults competing under a neutral flag on the same team, it would not be appropriate to sanction some athletes and not others. Therefore, in such an instance, athletes will not be sanctioned.
“IABA in no way condones the representation of boxers under any flag other than the Irish flag. As a result, anyone seen to be encouraging or facilitating this action, and/or engaging in inappropriate behaviour online will be open to sanction.
“IABA has an expectation of conduct by clubs and members in accordance with IABA rules, and any such misconduct will be adjudicated and sanctioned.”
The IBA did not respond when contacted by The Irish News for comment.
Meanwhile, there were impressive wins for Ulster pair Clepson dos Santos and Louis Rooney at the European U22 Championships in Bulgaria on Wednesday afternoon.
Holy Trinity flyweight Dos Santos, who boxed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, secured at least a bronze medal with a unanimous decision win over Georgia’s Davit Japaridze, while Star light-fly Rooney took a 4-1 split over Armenia’s Hovhannes Harutyunyan to move into the podium places.
They joined Oakleaf’s Carleigh Irving in the last four, after she produced a classy display to see off Azerbaijan’s Mehpara Mammadova on Tuesday. All three will be in semi-final action on Thursday.
