The Czech national boxing team followed the example of the Americans and the Irish by deciding to boycott the amateur world championships, both among men and women, under the auspices of the International Boxing Association (IBA). Earlier, the IBA allowed Russians and Belarusians to take part in competitions and perform under their own flags and anthems.
“The IBA organization is run by a Russian very close to Vladimir Putin, and Gazprom pays for everything. Umar Kremlev, the head of the IBA, got his influence thanks to money. The problem is that some countries allow themselves to be bribed. It's just not right,” said Marek Simak, president of the Czech Boxing Association, adding that negotiations are already underway to create a new organization that could compete with the IBA.
“The new association should be pro-European, anti-Putin. And above all, we want to strive to keep boxing at the Olympic Games,” Simak added.
