WBC Decides to Lift Ban on South Africa

The World Boxing Council on Tuesday provisionally lifted sanctions imposed against South Africa in 1975 for its policy of apartheid.

Delegates from 134 countries at the organization’s convention voted unanimously for the proposal so that South African fighters can be included in WBC rankings.

The measure was introduced by Sam Ramsamy, president of the South African Olympic Committee.

He sought the re-entry of his country pending the “analysis of the course of future events.”

The WBC appointed a commission headed by Ramsamy to oversee the unification of professional boxing in South Africa.

“My first decision as president of the council was to expel South Africa for its policy of racial discrimination,” WBC president Jose Sulaiman said. “Now I feel great pleasure in the admission of South Africa following United Nations guidelines to admit South African athletes to international organizations.”

Sulaiman was elected to a fifth term.