Will Swedes and Finns boycott competitions involving Russians?

Vladimir Putin and IBA President Umar Kremlev in Moscow, September 10, 2022

The Swedish and Finnish boxing federations have announced that they will boycott boxing competitions to which Russian and Belarusian athletes will be admitted. This was their response to the decision of the IBA, which yesterday announced the lifting of the ban on the participation of boxers from Russia and Belarus in events organized under the auspices of the federation.

Boxing, thanks to Umar Kremlev, head of the IBA, became the first Olympic sport to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to competition under their national flag, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“This is a scandal and an unacceptable decision,” said Per-Axel Sjöholm, president of the Swedish Boxing Federation.