Boxers to wear no headgear in Rio

For the first time since 1980 Olympics, male boxers will trade punches without any headgear at the Rio Games after the International Olympic Committee sanctioned a change introduced by world boxing federation AIBA.

AIBA adopted the change for three years ago and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and last year's World Championships saw fighters box bare-headed.

But the changes had to be ratified by the IOC Executive Board, which noted it without objection on Tuesday, essentially rubber-stamping the decision and clearing the way for Rio.

The IOC said AIBA had presented medical research that showed concussions were less likely to occur without headgear than with.

"AIBA provided medical and technical data that showed the number of concussions is lower without headgear," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.

They have done a lot of research in the last three years. The rule will go ahead for Rio."

Boxers have been wearing headguards since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The last Games without them were in Moscow 1980.

Women boxers, who first competed at the 2012 Olympics, will continue wearing their protective gear.