Valuev calls the IOC outright Russophobes who "can do nothing" about Russia

Former world heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev has called the expulsion of the International Boxing Federation (IBA) from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a manifestation of "overt Russophobic politics". The State Duma deputy equated world boxing with Russian boxing in an imperialist manner

Valuev said this in a comment to Championat.com. In line with the new narratives of Kremlin propaganda, the former athlete emphasised that the IOC made its decision on the IBA on 22 June, the anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the USSR.

"We state that a big dirty politics has come to sport. The decisions made yesterday are absolutely politicised, absolutely inappropriate. We are witnessing a blatant Russophobic policy against our country. And it was manifested on 22 June. The non-recognition of Russian boxing is actually an admission that they can do nothing," Valuev said.

Earlier, the IBA ignored the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ban the presidential election and re-elected Russian Umar Kremlin. As a result, the ardent fan of dictator Vladimir Putin lifted the suspension of Russians from boxing tournaments and imposed sanctions on Ukraine.

The IBA banned our country's junior team from competing under the national flag at the European Championships. In response, our team announced a boycott and withdrew from the competition. The legendary Oleksandr Usyk supported his compatriots and appealed to the Kremlin.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the International Boxing Federation (IBA) has become a laughingstock after it responded to the IOC's expulsion from its membership. The IOC itself had previously responded harshly to the head of the IBA, Umar Kremlev, who had made aggressive statements and calls for violence. In addition, children were used in Russia to attack the IOC over the IBA decision.

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