Hugely popular Olympic sport could be axed from LA 2028 amid behind-the-scenes row

A popular Olympic sport could be axed from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

The Paris Olympics officially closed on Sunday evening, with French swimming star Leon Marchand carrying the Olympic lantern into the Stade de France to signal the Games' conclusion.

It has been an incredible two weeks in France with plenty of memorable moments, not least Marchand's haul of four gold medals in the pool, Alex Yee's stunning late comeback to win the men's triathlon and Simone Biles' incredible exploits in the gymnastics that saw her win another three golds.

Fans also saw the closest men's 100m final won by Noah Lyles, while Dutch runner Sifan Hassan produced one of the most emotional moments of the Games when she won the women's marathon on the final day of competition.

But while all those sports and events are locked in for Los Angeles in four years' time, one sport is said to be at risk.

According to reports, boxing may be axed from the Olympics schedule due to behind-the-scenes controversy.

The boxing event at the Olympics was previously run by the International Boxing Association (IBA), but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped them of official recognition after they failed to implement governance and finance reforms.

Another issue surrounded the IBA's decision to allow Russian competitors to compete at the World Championships - against IOC guidelines.

The IOC has run Olympic boxing in both Tokyo and Paris - but it will refuse to do so in Los Angeles. The row has raged throughout the Paris Games.

Boxing, therefore, needs a global body to gain global recognition to take over the administration of the event, or face being left off the Olympics calendar entirely. World Boxing was created in 2023 and has 37 members, but has not yet been officially recognised by the IOC.

Speaking at a press event in Paris about the future of boxing, IOC president Thomas Bach - who leaves his role in March 2025 - said: "During the course of next year [we will decide]. As soon as possible. But we cannot wait longer than the end of next year."

In addition, the IOC and IBA have been involved in a public dispute over the participation of female boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who both won gold medals in their respective weight categories in Paris.

The IBA decided to ban both boxers during last year's World Championships after they failed an unspecified gender test. But the IOC - which applies less stringent criteria - decided to allow them to compete in Paris, and have always recognised the pair as female athletes.

Both were born as and identify as female, and are registered as women on their passports.

The IOC deem them eligible for competition, and the legitimacy of the IBA tests have been questioned amid an IBA press conference in Paris, which the IOC claim featured several inconsistencies.

Khelif has since launched a legal complaint surrounding online harassment.