Boxing New Zealand has decided to allow two boxers to compete at next month's World Youth Championship in Spain.
Boxing gloves Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Council of Boxing NZ met to discuss the issue after the world amateur body, the IBA, decided to reverse the ban on boxers from Russia and Belarus allowing them to compete with national flags and anthems in events with immediate effect.
Boxing New Zealand disagreed with the IBA's move as it was contrary to the stance of the International Olympic Committee.
Chairman Keith Walker says it was a difficult decision for them.
"While we fully support the Common Cause Alliance, we've decided that boxers should not be penalised for the decision of IBA to allow Belaruss and Russian boxers to compete at IBA events, said Walker in a statement.
"Most aligned CCA Supporting Federations are now sending teams and as our boxers and support staff have booked and paid for their filghts (self funded) we have agreed to allow them to attend the event.
"Other CCA Federations have ruled that their boxers will not compete against Russian or Belarus boxers should they meet at anytime in the draw.
"Boxing NZ have left our team leaders to make a decision on whether to follow this same ruling.
"The reason for this is that they are paying for their participation at the event and not incurring any cost to Boxing NZ .
The two boxers taking part are Hameuru Tainui of Canterbury and Kalani Mara of Taranaki.
Putin and Kremlev Photo: AFP
The International Boxing Association, which is at odds with Olympic organisers, this week said its board of directors had voted in favour of the change.
Russian energy company Gazprom is the biggest sponsor of the IBA, formerly known as AIBA.
Both countries have been barred since March from the IBA's international competitions, following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine.
The IBA, led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, last month suspended Ukraine ahead of a meeting that voted against a fresh presidential election.
That followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that Dutch federation president Boris van der Vorst was wrongly prevented from standing against Kremlev in May.
The IBA does not recognise Kyrylo Shevchenko as president of the Ukrainian federation but instead considers its head to be Volodymyr Prodyvus, a Kremlev ally who left Ukraine in February.
The IOC has taken away from the IBA the qualification tournaments and competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics after also stripping the body of involvement in last year's Tokyo Games due to governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues.
Boxing has also not been included in the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Van der Vorst said the IBA's latest decision separated the boxing body further from the Olympic movement and "does not consider the interests of the world boxing community."
"Contrary to the IBA messages, this decision is an enforcement of the Russian governmentG��s geopolitical agenda on the sport of boxing," he added in a statement.
"It is clear that IBA is held hostage by its Russian leadership and they are determined to keep the governing body under their control at any cost."
-RNZ/Reuters
