Already behind closed doors, the road to the Olympics for several of boxing’s best has taken a big hit.
The International Olympics Committee’s task force for boxing announced that all qualifying events will be suspended until May the latest. That includes the remainder of the London qualifying bouts that have been going on throughout the weekend. It is the latest pause in sporting events since the coronavirus outbreak. The rest of the rounds were meant to take place in America and other secluded locations.
“The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today, amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home,” the IOC stated in a release.
“The BTF will continue to evaluate the situation daily, aiming to complete the distribution of the remaining Tokyo 2020 boxing quota places in May and June.”
The events have been going on since March 14, with the last one yesterday evening. Athletes were told to be tested frequently for the coronavirus Those competing so far include Charley Davidson, Pat McCormack and Ivana Habazin. The latter was a part of an upset loss in her most recent bout.
IOC member Dick Pound has not commented since his latest statement a few months back. According to him, the Olympics are still on.
“As far as we all know, you’re going to be in Tokyo,” Pound went on to say. “All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.”