President of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association Gerry O'Mahony has said the association plans to end its boycott of Russian boxers and allow Mullingar youngster John Donoghue to fight for a medal at the Junior World Championships on Thursday.

After winning two fights in Armenia, the 15-year-old is set to face Russian Zakhar Bespalov in the light-welterweight quarter-finals, but until today the IABA's policy was that their boxers must sign a declaration to withdraw if pitted against Russian or Belarusian opponents.

Dunboyne fighter Tegan Farrelly had to give a walkover in Yerevan yesterday without throwing a punch, while last month three boxers pulled out of the Under-22 European Championships in Montenegro on the same grounds. Bronze medallist Evelyn Igharo missed out the chance to contest her semi-final while team captain Kian Hedderman was forced to withdraw in the first round and Gavin Rafferty in the second.

Ireland boycotted the senior men's and women’s World Championships this year after international amateur governing body the IBA, chaired by Russian Umar Kremlev, allowed Russian and Belarussian athletes to compete under their countries’ flags despite the invasion of Ukraine.

The IABA has now returned to underage competitions but was the only participating country to have a policy of not facing boxers from the two nations. The governments of Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, South Korea, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain have all also signed the 'collective Ministerial statement on Russia's war on Ukraine and international sport' but their federations’ fighters are competing at the World Juniors without restrictions. Some signatory countries have boycotted the event altogether.

Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, O'Mahony said that he would email the Irish coaches in Armenia telling them to end the boycott, following comments from Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne on Tuesday that it was a decision for the IABA.

"My personal wish is that the young lad boxes tomorrow night and I'll do all in my power to do that," said O'Mahony.

"After Thomas Byrne's statement last night, I believe it [the government] has changed its policy, that it’s up to us. But we were never notified of that.

"He said last night that we would not be sanctioned. But we depend solely on government funding, and wouldn’t be looked on favourably if we went against the agreement that was signed by 36 ministers.

"After last night’s statement I am prepared to risk it because he said it will not affect our funding but I would like that confirmed and I’d love an urgent meeting with the minister. This decision has to be made tonight."

O'Mahony added that he understood why the government had adopted the position they did but that the aforementioned boxers could have been spared disappointment if the IABA was made aware it had flexibility on the issue.

"Other boxers have lost out. If they had changed their mind on allowing young athletes to take part in sport against Russians, they should have notified us.

"I'm not blaming Sport Ireland or the government as such because they signed up to agreements that at the time seemed the right thing to do. I think it was in hope that the war would be over in a short period of time but it’s still going on and it may go on for the next 20 years.

"In the meantime, the people on the periphery who are suffering are the likes of John Donoghue, and other kids."

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Thomas Byrne

Responding to a question on the issue from Chris Andrews TD at an Oireachtas committee yesterday, Thomas Byrne insisted there would be no consequences for individuals who faced Russian fighters.

"There won’t be," he said. "The IABA are an autonomous organisation. We don’t tell them what to do."

When pressed by Andrews if there would be any instruction or sanctions from Sport Ireland, Byrne replied "No."

He added: "I, and like-minded ministers internationally, have been very clear on the exclusion of athletes representing Russia or Belarus. We as ministers have made a number of very clear statements in this regard. This has certainly placed athletes and indeed the IABA in a difficult position, in particular.

"I certainly welcome and applaud that they have stuck to this principle, and their boxers, and it’s a very important point that they do. But we have always been very clear that the IABA is an autonomous organisation and they make their own decisions. We don’t make those decisions for them."

"John is only 15 years of age. He's not into politics, he’s just a kid that just wants to box"

John Joe Joyce is Donoghue’s head coach at the Olympic Boxing Club in Mullingar. Speaking earlier on Wednesday, the 2008 Olympian had called on the IABA to reverse course and let Donoghue fight.

"The IABA are their own bosses and they can make their own decisions," the former European medallist told RTÉ Sport.

"We have written to the minister, we have written to Sport Ireland. The video from Leinster House is clear that there will be no sanctions on the kid, no sanctions on anyone if he boxes.

"It’s up to the IABA to let the kid box but they won’t let the kid box. It seems to be the IABA not having the courage and not knowing what to do themselves."

The IABA has sent referee/judge Barry Tucker to the championships, believing that the ministerial statement only covers athletes and their support staff.

"Nothing against him but he’s allowed to referee and judge Russia and Belarus boxers but we can’t box them," said Joyce. "It makes no sense."

"The only ones that are losing out are the kids.

"John is only 15 years of age. He’s not into politics, he’s just a kid that just wants to box. It’s his biggest fight since he started boxing, and a great chance of winning a world medal. In my opinion he would win and it’s unfair that he doesn’t get a chance to box.

"Just let him box."

In his closing address at this month's IABA AGM, Mahony told delegates that he was opposed to the withdrawal policy but felt that the embattled organisation, which receives the vast majority of its funding from Sport Ireland, was bound to follow the government’s lead on the issue.

In a statement to RTÉ Sport today, however, Sport Ireland said that it was supportive of the IABA "aligning with the standard practice in international sport".

Sport Ireland said: "Irish National Governing Bodies were asked to take a firm position and encourage their international federations to condemn the invasion and ban Russian and Belarussian athletes from their events and competitions, including the removal of the opportunity for Russia and Belarus to host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events.

"The International Boxing Association defied guidance from the international sporting community and allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at IBA events under their national flags rather than as neutral athletes.

"We are sympathetic to the challenge presented to the Irish boxers and the IABA, and support their actions in aligning with the standard practice in international sport."