Tokyo Olympics boxing qualifiers suspended

TIL Desk Sports/ The European, American and final world qualifying boxing tournaments for the Tokyo Olympic Games were suspended on Monday due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the International Olympic Committee said.

The IOC said the European qualifier in London, which was already under way and due to run to March 24, would end after Tuesday’s evening session. It said it would provide details on the qualification process for the other regions at a later date.

The IOC’s boxing task force (BTF), which is organising the event in the Copper Box at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, had opted earlier on Monday to hold it without spectators but then decided to end it early.

“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 said in a statement.