After months of discussion and lobbying, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has finally sent an application to the IOC seeking the inclusion of women's boxing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"AIBA head office officially submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) its application to include women's boxing in the 2012 Olympic Games," AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu said in a letter informing of the development to all affiliated national bodies.

"The AIBA application outlines the strengths of womens boxing and illustrates the key points behind why women's boxing should be included in the Olympic Games," the letter stated.

AIBA said the IOC will decide on the application, sent on Monday, in its executive board meeting late 2009.

"The Olympic Programme Commission will now review the application before making a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board, which will make a decision,” it said.

"It is the IOC which will make a decision at its Executive Board meeting at the end of 2009 and whatever the result, we know that the IOC will be acting in the best interests of boxing," said Wu.

The AIBA has been lobbying hard to make women's boxing an Olympic sport for quite some while and has been discussing the matter at various IOC meets.