On Friday, the World Boxing Association (IBA) called for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international sport.
“Sport is outside of politics. Politics ends where it begins. The time has come to allow all athletes to participate,” said Russian federation president Umar Kremlev.
In boxing, Russians and Belarusians are not excluded from international competitions. “The IOC and the international federations must protect all athletes, there must be no discrimination based on nationality,” said Kremlev.
The IBA has been suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2019 due to numerous scandals. Kremlev is not undisputed either. Only at the beginning of the week was the Russian unopposed in office. The Dutchman originally wanted to challenge Boris van der Vorst Kremlev.
Kremlev, head of the association since the end of 2020, saved the IBA (formerly AIBA) economically with the help of the main sponsor Gazprom, but made it completely dependent on the Russian state-owned company. He was also considered a close confidant of his predecessor Gafur Rachimov, who was stripped of his post following serious allegations of corruption.