• IOC gives go-ahead to ditch headguards • Protection has been worn since 1984 Olympic Games

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Male boxers will not wear protective headgear at the Olympics Games for the first time since 1984.

Following its move to allow professional boxers to compete in Rio, the International Boxing Association has proposed to unanimously end the use of headguards for all of their elite men’s competitions.

The AIBA adopted the change for amateur fighters three years ago and the decision was widely considered a formality for the Olympics.

The move received clearance on Tuesday when the IOC executive board said it was up to AIBA to apply its own rules and the Olympic body would not interfere.

The AIBA president, Ching-Kuo Wu, said although fighters are more prone to cuts without the headguards, the change will result in a decrease in concussions.

Headguards have been worn at every Olympic Games since Los Angeles in 1984 and will continue to be used by women following their entry into Olympic boxing at London 2012.