Recently, the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) agreed to include Russian and Belarusian athletes in the rankings.
The WBA justifies the decision by saying that it is the nations – not the athletes themselves – that are involved in the war in Ukraine.
I’m just helping Putin
The IBA is also led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, who has been photographed several times with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The association is also in the process of extending its lucrative deal with Russian gas company Gazprom.
Due to Kremlev’s financial and leadership chaos, the IBA was banned from the Olympics by the Olympic Committee (IOC).
– Indelible moral error
Former Ukrainian world heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko, who enlisted in the war, rages against what is happening in boxing.
– The collaboration between WBA and IBA is a bad stain for the sport. Including Russian and Belarusian athletes is an indelible moral mistake. The sport of boxing needs a big clean up. It’s no coincidence that the IOC is maintaining the ban, Klitschko says in a video he posted on Chirping.
The Norwegian Boxing Association is part of the controversial IBA. President Haktor Slåke strongly disagrees with the fact that the association has now welcomed back athletes from Russia and Belarus.
Election candidates: – Catastrophe
The president explains that, despite the controversial decision, IBA president Kremlev has great faith in many of the member countries.
– That won’t change until there’s a new government system, and for now it looks safe. It has the support of many countries in Europe and Africa, as well as a lot of support from the Caribbean and some from Asia, he explains.
Clean
He points out that during his time as president, Kremlev cleaned up the economy and canceled the debt. Much of this thanks to the deal with Gazprom. The current deal, which will expire soon, but Sun Signs will be extended after all, has given the union $50 million over two years. This corresponds to almost NOK 500 million.
Which, by the way, led the IBA to introduce high prizes for good positions at conventions.
Stopping Putin’s TV hero
– Gazprom helped us become an independent and financially stable organization. Through the cooperation, we were able to premiere athletes at world championship level and help federations with scarce finances, Kremlev himself explained in early December according to Inside the games.
Slåke believes Kremlev should be commended for cleaning up the IBA’s finances, but there’s a big but.
Break with Norway
– It doesn’t do it transparently. We believe he used financial means to buy support. He also had Putin use him to pose for photos with him at various events. He is clearly a good supporter of Putin, sums up the Norwegian president.
Dagbladet, via the IBA press office, asked Kremlev if he would respond to the statements and accusations of Klitschko and Slåke. Our requests have not yet been answered.
– Disgust
Before the deal with the WBA in December, the IBA has already opened Russian athletes in October. Both Norway and Sweden have reacted to this.
– Disgust is what I feel, they prove once again that they don’t care about democracy, they just run their own race. We are in the other corner of the ring and will fight against this decision. I will make a decision of the board, but our boxers will not meet Russian or Belarusian boxers in international competitions, writes the head of the Swedish Boxing Association Per-Axel Sjöholm to The evening paper.
