A new sporting federation hoping to facilitate boxing’s long-term primacy within international sport has appointed Melbourne Law School Professor Jack Anderson to its inaugural ethics leadership position.
Professor Anderson, Melbourne Law School’s former director of Sports Law studies and current Director of Program for Melbourne Law Masters, was announced as World Boxing’s first Ethics Chief last week.
World Boxing launched in April 2023 with plans to ‘work constructively and collaboratively to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s ongoing place on the Olympic competition programme at Los Angeles 2028 and beyond’.
The body will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee as it seeks to ensure the sport of boxing ‘remains at the heart of the Olympic movement’.
The body’s Ethics Chief will remain independent of World Boxing and amongst other duties, will provide council to body leadership; review ethicality of body policy and programmes; be a conduit for competitor, staff and member complaints; and advice on competition rules and regulations adopted by the body.
Professor Anderson said he was ‘impressed’ by the new body’s commitment to transparency, integrity and strong governance.
“A sport with clear and sound ethical values, and the courage to pursue those who do not respect such standards, best protects its athletes. It also promotes greater confidence in the image and integrity of that sport helping it reach new audiences and secure its future.”
Professor Anderson has experience across several sporting body ethical commissions, integrity units and tribunals and currently sits on other national bodies in similar roles including on the board of Harness Racing Victoria and is an arbitrator at the National Sports Tribunal.
