Australia's national boxing coach has pulled out of the Paris Olympics after admitting to bullying and sexual misconduct with female fighters.

A total of 188 boxers from 56 National Olympic Committees have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Tournament at the first qualifying event in Italy and the continental qualifiers. The second event in Thailand will be the last chance for boxers to compete for the remaining 51 places.

A year after the country approved the presence of female boxers in pre-Olympic competitions, Cuba has invited two boxers, likely to be the national champions Legnis Calá (57 kg) and Yakelin Stornell (66 kg), to the event in Italy in February. Two places for Paris 2024 are at stake.

The final Olympic boxing qualifier for Tokyo 2020 - a global event which had been due to take place in Paris in June - has been scrapped.

The bell has sounded for 2017 and although a punch has yet to be thrown in earnest we can anticipate a very happy and ever-more prosperous New Year for boxing.