Russia and Belarus
World boxing association calls for Russian athletes to return: “Sport and politics have nothing to do with each other”
June 2021: Boxer Fedor Chudinov of Russia celebrates defeating an opponent from South Africa. The president of the world boxing association demands that all athletes from Russia and Belarus are allowed to take part in international competitions again.
© ITAR-TASS / Imago Images
Every athlete should be allowed to compete under the flag of his country, said Umar Kremlev, himself Russian and president of the world boxing association. The association demands that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete again.
The World Boxing Association (IBA) has called for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to all international competitions. “Sport has nothing to do with politics: politics ends where it begins,” said Russian President Umar Kremlev, according to a statement from the association.
“The IBA is there to protect every boxer, no matter what the situation is in their home country.” After the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, athletes from Russia and Belarus, which are considered supporters of the Russian invasion, were banned from numerous sporting events.
Athletes from Russia should be allowed to take part in competitions
At its extraordinary congress last weekend, the IBA decided to temporarily suspend Ukraine because of state interference in the work of the national association. Kremlev now emphasized that Ukrainian athletes are still allowed to take part in IBA competitions. The federation voted for the “suspension of the federation, not for that of the athletes,” said the Russian. “I reiterate that all athletes must be allowed to compete under their country’s flag.”
Kremlev demanded that the International Olympic Committee and the international federations must protect athletes and ensure that they are not discriminated against on the basis of their nationality. “It is the duty of all of us to keep sport out of politics.”
At the IBA Congress last weekend, the delegates spoke out against new elections, which is why Kremlin will remain in office for another four years. The 39-year-old is considered a close confidant of his predecessor Gafur Rachimov (Uzbekistan), who was forced to resign due to allegations of corruption. The world association has been suspended by the IOC since 2019 and is no longer financially supported by it. The IOC is also threatening to remove boxing from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if there are no reforms in the federation. For the games in Paris 2024, the IOC has already withdrawn the IBA from hosting the boxing tournament.