Wexford IABA claims that IABA high-performance institute is discriminating boxer Dean Walsh

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association recently announced a 22-strong training squad for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris…

One Wexford native, Dean Walsh, has been named in the Team Ireland squad.

It has recently been revealed that Dean Walsh has not been named as the first choice at 71kg, despite winning the last two National Elite titles at that weight class.

Instead, Tokyo Games medalist Aidan Walsh is named as the first choice at 71kg.

The Wexford County Board Athletic Boxing Association has expressed their “outrage” and disappointment with this decision and have sent a letter, which has yet to be replied to, to the IABA.

“Dean Walsh has already beaten Aidan Walsh during their last encounter at last year’s elite championships, at the semi-final stage, and Aidan Walsh didn’t even compete in our National Elite Championships this year. The more cynical amongst us might now propose that this was strategic to as to avoid having to meet Dean Walsh again in open competition. The rightful place for our very experienced National Champion is as the number one choice,” they said.

The letter, written and signed by Dominic Robinson of the Wexford County Board IABA, also stated that the Wexford man is being discriminated against:

“It seems to us that Dean is being discriminated against by the High performance set-up, given he is the only current champion to have to go through this so-called assessment process. A process which doesn’t include open box off with 5 impartial judges as one might expect, but is instead done behind close doors without his coaches and without any other clear means of measurement,” it reads.

According to the letter, the decision to place Aidan Walsh as the number one spot as opposed to Dean Walsh was a “behind closed-doors decision, pushing Dean Walsh out of the running.”