GB Boxing has confirmed its boycott will extend to the IBA Men's World Championships in Tashkent ©Getty Images

GB Boxing has announced it will boycott the International Boxing Association (IBA) Men's World Championships in Tashkent - mirroring the stance it took over the women's event in New Delhi last month.

The governing body claimed the move was again due to the doubts about boxing's future on the Olympic programme, and the IBA's decision to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags amid the invasion of Ukraine.

A group of countries announced that they would boycott both the men's and women's World Championships before the New Delhi event, but GB Boxing's initial decision was just for the India competition.

It has now extended its absence to cover the men's tournament in the Uzbek capital between April 30 and May 14, after previously saying it would review the situation.

GB Boxing has promised to provide plenty of opportunities for its boxers to prepare for Paris 2024, despite the decision to boycott the IBA Men's World Championhips in Tashkent ©Getty Images
GB Boxing has promised to provide plenty of opportunities for its boxers to prepare for Paris 2024, despite the decision to boycott the IBA Men's World Championhips in Tashkent ©Getty Images

"Boxers from the GB Boxing squad will not participate in the forthcoming IBA Men's World Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan," a statement said.

"The decision reflects on-going concerns about the future of boxing's place on the Olympic programme and the recent decision by IBA to allows teams of boxers from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags, which contravenes the International Olympic Committee's position on the participation of athletes from these countries.

"This has put further distance between IBA and the Olympic Movement in addition to the significant, longstanding issues over sporting integrity, governance, transparency and financial management which the IOC has asked IBA to address to protect boxing's place on the Olympic programme.

"GB Boxing condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has solidarity with the people, boxers, coaches and officials of Ukraine.

"GB Boxing is committed to delivering the best possible preparation for our boxers in the build-up to Paris 2024 and will continue to work with National Federations and tournament organisers to provide training and competition opportunities in advance of the Olympic qualifying events that begin in June 2023 with the European Games in Poland."

The IBA, formerly AIBA, has been suspended by the IOC since 2019 and was not in charge of the boxing tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Relations between the two parties have severely deteriorated as boxing has been left off the initial Los Angeles 2028 programme and could still be dropped from Paris 2024.

Governance concerns, financial irregularities and a lack of transparency are key to the IOC's complaints.

Great Britain were among 17 countries who boycotted the IBA Women's World Championships in India's capital New Delhi ©IBA
Great Britain were among 17 countries who boycotted the IBA Women's World Championships in India's capital New Delhi ©IBA

Last week, the IBA, led by Russian President Umar Kremlev, threatened legal action against the IOC in a row about officials being invited to Paris 2024.

The IBA responded by pledging financial assistance for boxers from those countries, to allow them to compete.