LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Male boxers won’t be wearing protective headgear at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The International Boxing Association, known as AIBA, adopted the change for amateur fighters three years ago, and the decision was widely considered a formality for the Olympics.
The move received official clearance Tuesday when the IOC executive board said it was up to AIBA to apply its own rules and the Olympic body would not interfere.
AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu said, although fighters are more prone to cuts without the head guards, the change will result in a decrease in concussions.