Boxing, weightlifting and pentathlon out of 2028 Olympic Games for now

Havana, December 10 (MD)-- Boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon were left out of the initial program of the Los Angeles-2028 Olympic Games, although the issue will be analyzed again in 2023.

Instead, surfing, sport climbing and skateboarding, the sports that debuted on the Olympic program in Tokyo 2020, were included in the discipline list for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said.

In an online press conference at the end of a meeting of the body's executive board, IOC head Thomas Bach said boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon did not make the cut of the initial 28 sports and must meet certain criteria in 2023 to be included.

Bach maintained that an IOC session in February will approve the initial program. The three sports left out will be brought back to the IOC session in 2023.

Skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing are part of the program for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

For weightlifting and boxing, their exclusion is a major blow, as the international federations struggle with governance, financial and corruption issues and the IOC has repeatedly warned that if reforms are not pursued they risk being left off the Olympic program.

Both will need to show improvement in terms of financial transparency and governance to return to the Olympic Games.

Modern pentathlon, part of the Games for more than a century, must provide plans to replace horses in competition following a scandal during the Tokyo Games where a trainer beat an animal.

The IOC has imposed a series of conditions on the international boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon federations to keep them on the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, for which it has already agreed to the continuation of surfing, climbing and skateboarding.

Bach also indicated that the IOC will closely monitor the calendar of soccer, a sport he cited among the 28 included in the Los Angeles 2028 program.

But asked about the possible coincidence of the Games with a World Cup every two years, the president said: "We would have to see what it means for the availability of the best players and we would consider the consequences of that situation, although at this time it is mere speculation because we have no real information," Bach concluded.