Phase 1: IBA Chief Responds to WBC Exclusion of Russian Boxers

The president of the International Boxing Association, Umar Kremlev, issued pointed criticism of the World Boxing Council’s decision to exclude Russian athletes from the organization’s ratings. He framed the move as a setback for the credibility and respect of boxing’s governing bodies, arguing that such actions undermine the sport’s integrity and cast doubt on the WBC’s leadership. According to Kremlev, the conduct of the WBC in this matter reflects a humiliation of the sport’s values and calls into question why Russian athletes would engage with a system that appears to punish participants on the basis of national affiliation. He emphasized that penalties of this kind should not translate into participation across the board, asserting that the emotional and ethical impact is akin to tearing at the core of the boxing community. Kremlev described the WBC’s approach as self-sabotaging, suggesting that the organization, by removing heart from its mission, damages both its standing and its ability to inspire athletes to compete under its umbrella.