Nigeria Boxing Federation interim president Azania Omo-Agege has accused the Worldwide Olympic Committee of discrimination towards African nations by means of current modifications to Olympic boxing weight classes, The PUNCH studies.
The NBF chief argues that the IOC’s determination to cut back boxing classes has disproportionately affected African nations’ medal prospects on the Olympics.
“This has not been superb for Africa as many of the weight classes they took out are the place Africa excelled. Should you examine our statistics for the previous Olympics, Africa was coming with about three to 5 medals.
“For the reason that new change, Africa has solely been getting one to 2 medals as a complete continent on the Olympics. That’s discrimination,” Omo-Agege instructed our correspondent.
His feedback come after Africa managed only one boxing medal on the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Algeria’s Imane Khelif claiming gold within the -66kg class amid controversy over transphobic harassment and gender questions.
The discount in weight classes has pressured athletes to make drastic weight changes to compete, a scenario Omo-Agege describes as unfair.
“Now once they cut back the classes, you might be forcing the athletes to quickly enhance or cut back weights in order to compete, and that’s not truthful, it’s discriminatory,” he added.
“I’m agitating for extra slots the place Africans have their strengths or return to the unique weight classes.”
Nigeria’s personal Olympic boxing struggles have been evident in Paris, the place their final hope Adam Olaore crashed out within the spherical of 16 of the boys’s 92kg heavyweight class towards Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay.
The nation’s marketing campaign was additional hampered by Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s doping-related disqualification and Dolapo Omole’s harm withdrawal, extending Nigeria’s Olympic boxing medal drought past Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze at Atlanta ‘96.
Looking forward to Los Angeles 2028, Omo-Agege plans to revive the Nigerian Boxing League as a part of long-term improvement technique.
“There’s a notion that the majority of our boxers are from the streets. We’re working to vary that, and we’d like fixed competitors to try this,” he stated.
The federation chief believes the introduction of prize cash from the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation will inspire boxers, including, “Since there may be prize cash now from the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation, the boxers will likely be inspired to struggle the place they’ll truly earn a dwelling.
“After we attend extra competitions, it should put us in a very good place to exit for worldwide video games the place we will put together ourselves for the Olympics.”