The Greek Boxing Federation has suffered a major institutional blow after the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports revoked its official sports recognition following an investigation that revealed serious administrative irregularities and failures in maintaining mandatory records.

The decision, issued by the General Secretariat of Sports, comes as the federation faces intense scrutiny over its financial management, including allegations concerning money transfers, expenses charged to federation funds, and practices under previous administrations.

The move represents a significant administrative measure, as it does not merely involve financial penalties or recommendations for improvement. Instead, the ministry withdrew the certification confirming that the Greek Boxing Federation met the requirements set by sports legislation.

According to the official document, the General Secretariat of Sports revoked the federation’s special sports recognition certificate, originally issued in February 2023. The decision was based on findings from an inspection report completed on June 11, 2026, following an unannounced on-site audit at the federation’s offices by a three-member inspection team.

The audit identified serious problems in the federation’s record-keeping procedures. Among the findings was that the official books containing minutes from general assemblies had not been properly certified, despite including records covering the period from May 2021 through 2024.

Similar issues were discovered in the minutes book of the Board of Directors, covering meetings between May 2021 and September 2024. According to inspectors, decisions made by the federation’s highest administrative body during this period were not recorded in legally certified records.

Particularly significant were the findings concerning the federation’s membership registry. The inspection report stated that the registry had not been updated since 2020, despite being a fundamental document for determining which clubs hold membership status and have the right to participate in decision-making procedures and general assemblies.

Inspectors also noted broader shortcomings in the content and management of official records, including missing minutes, blank pages, incomplete supporting documents, and unsigned or improperly documented entries.

One of the most serious findings involved signatures appearing on blank pages. Inspectors raised concerns that such practices could compromise the authenticity and integrity of official records and potentially allow documents to be completed at a later stage.

Based on these findings, the General Secretariat of Sports determined that the conditions for applying Article 6 of Law 2725/1999 had been met. The legislation requires sports organisations to maintain specific records, including membership registers, general assembly minutes, board meeting minutes, financial records, asset registers, and incoming and outgoing correspondence logs.

Failure to comply with these obligations can result in the withdrawal of special sports recognition — the sanction ultimately imposed on the Greek Boxing Federation.

The decision adds to the already difficult situation surrounding the federation’s operation and financial management. A previous multi-page report by the Ministry of Finance had documented alleged transfers of money to personal bank accounts, expenses for luxury hotels, purchases of electronic devices, personal items and other costs that auditors said were not sufficiently connected to the needs of the sport.

The findings reportedly included transfers totalling €107,569, financial advances to the former president, use of a debit card linked to a federation account, and expenses for stays at hotels in locations including Evrytania, Arachova, Tinos, Korfos Corinthia and Xanthi.

Auditors also identified charges for sunglasses, perfumes, duty-free purchases, a PlayStation console, an iPhone, food expenses, and the widely discussed purchase of a “pink poodle,” which became one of the most notable findings of the investigation.

The revocation of the federation’s sports recognition was not presented as a direct punishment for these financial expenses, but rather as a consequence of the administrative violations identified during the inspection.

Nevertheless, the decision comes amid broader questions regarding transparency, legality and proper governance within the organisation. The ruling has been formally communicated to the Greek Boxing Federation, headquartered at the Olympic Boxing Centre in Peristeri, and has also been forwarded to relevant officials within the Ministry of Sports.

The coming period is expected to be crucial for the future of Greek boxing. The federation’s efforts to restore institutional compliance, address the consequences of the decision and fully investigate the financial findings will determine whether — and under what conditions — it can regain official recognition.

The July 14 decision marks the strongest intervention by the Greek state into the operation of the Greek Boxing Federation to date, bringing to a head a case that now concerns not only financial management but also the broader governance and institutional integrity of the sport.