IBA Challenges IOC’s Athlete Compensation Model, Pledges Prize Money for Olympic Boxers
Lausanne, Switzerland – February 26, 2026 – The International Boxing Association (IBA) has sharply criticized the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) financial policies regarding athlete compensation and has pledged to award prize money to Olympic boxers, mirroring its support for the Paris 2024 Games, should the IOC fail to enact meaningful change. This move underscores a growing rift between the two organizations and highlights a broader debate about the financial fairness within the Olympic movement.
Growing Athlete Concerns Over IOC Revenue Distribution
IBA President Umar Kremlev voiced strong sympathy for athletes who have recently spoken out against what they perceive as financial exploitation by the IOC. Despite the IOC generating billions in revenue through marketing, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights , athletes often receive limited direct financial benefit. This disparity has fueled frustration, particularly as athletes are central to the Games’ success.
Recent statements from Swedish biathletes Elvira Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson brought the issue to the forefront. Samuelsson specifically argued that athletes should be able to capitalize on their own success and share in the revenue they generate, rather than seeing funds allocated to administrative expenses. This sentiment reflects a wider concern that the current system prioritizes officials over the athletes themselves.
Kremlev’s Critique of the Olympic System
President Kremlev contends that the Olympic Games have become overly politicized and detached from the athletes who dedicate years to training. He asserts that the focus has shifted from sport to politics and self-serving agendas, leaving athletes without adequate financial recognition or security. “The Olympic Games has long ceased to be about sport,” Kremlev stated. “There are too much politics and too little respect for those who spend years sweating in the gym.”
IBA’s Financial Support for Boxers: A Contrast to IOC Policy
In response to the IOC’s policies, Kremlev authorized over $3 million in prize money for boxers who placed in the top ranks at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, extending awards down to the quarter-finalists. Gold medalists received $100,000, distributed as $50,000 to the athlete, $25,000 to their coach, and $25,000 to their National Federation. Silver medalists received $50,000, and bronze medalists $25,000, with the same distribution breakdown. Even boxers finishing in fifth place received $10,000. Kremlev has vowed to continue this financial support at future Olympic Games if the IOC does not reform its approach.
A Call for Systemic Change
The IBA advocates for a fundamental shift in the Olympic system, prioritizing the financial independence and well-being of athletes, coaches, and National Federations. The organization positions its model as a sustainable ecosystem that invests directly in the boxing community, contrasting it with the IOC’s less transparent “reinvestment” claims. The IBA publicly discloses its prize fund figures, offering a level of transparency absent in the IOC’s financial reporting.
IBA’s Commitment to the Future
“If by the 2028 Olympics the IOC does not come to its senses and change its strategy in the interest of protecting athletes, the IBA is ready to step in once again,” Kremlev declared. “We will pay the Olympic champions and medallists the same prize amounts as we did before, given that they are our athletes, and the IBA is their home of boxing.”
About the International Boxing Association
Founded in 1946, the International Boxing Association (IBA) is the global governing body for boxing. The IBA’s core mission is to promote, support, develop, and unite the sport worldwide, with an athlete-first approach at its foundation.