Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers is threatening to cut Government funding for amateur boxing in its totality by 2023 if the sport’s association does not agree to new governance reforms.
Mr Chambers has called the board of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) to a meeting this Wednesday to discuss reforms to the organisation. He is expected to tell the organisation there would be an immediate funding cut of 15 per cent with all funding removed entirely in 2023 if the changes have not yet been accepted.
The IABA have an egm planned for Sunday, July 10th, where delegates will vote on a motion to create a new board and adopt reforms contained in a recent review by Brian MacNeice. That contained 63 recommendations. Key among these is one to create a new board of directors with 12 members, half of them independently appointed. Mr Chambers has called the meeting in advance of this.
The Minister will warn that failure to accept the changes will create a “governance crisis in the organisation and would demonstrate an unwillingness to tackle the issues in the IABA which has led to both Billy Walsh and Bernard Dunne quitting their roles as high-performance directors, as well as disruption to underage grassroots events,” said a source.
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Phased reductions
Mr Chambers will also outline sanctions the IABA will face if it does not act on the findings of its own review.
It is believed Government funding would be reduced in phases the longer the organisation fails to embrace the reforms.
Sources said special arrangements could be put in place to support high-performance boxers, including those preparing to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
They could also continue to receive funding through the International Carding Scheme which would not be affected by the Government’s actions.
Under the moves by the Government, the IABA would be barred from applying for funding through the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme, the Dormant Accounts Fund and other programmes until the recommendations are accepted.
The IABA received more than €2.3 million in State funding last year including coronavirus-related funding.
