Italian Boxing Federation Rejects Prize Money from Banned IBA

The Italian Boxing Federation has refused prize money offered by the banned International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA president, Umar Kremlev, had announced cash prizes for Angela Carini, her coach, and Italy's national federation following Carini's early exit at the Paris Olympics. The Italian federation, not a member of the IBA, released a statement denying any acceptance of such prizes.

The Italian Boxing Federation has refused to accept prize money from the banned International Boxing Association (IBA).

IBA president Umar Kremlev announced in a video that his organization wanted to award $50,000 to Angela Carini, who exited her opening bout with Algeria's Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics after just 46 seconds. Kremlev also proposed $25,000 each to Italy's national federation and Carini's coach.

The Italian Boxing Federation released a statement on Saturday stating it "denies what has been reported by some media regarding the hypothesis of accepting any kind of cash prize." The federation did not clarify whether Carini or her coach planned to accept the money.

Not a member of the IBA, which numerous Western federations have left to form World Boxing, the Italian federation's stance comes amid broader critiques against Kremlev, whose organization was suspended by the International Olympic Committee before the Tokyo Games and later banned from the Olympic movement entirely.

The IBA has been embroiled in controversy, claiming Khelif failed a gender identity test last year and sparking global uproar over the participation of Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting in the Olympic women's boxing tournament. The IOC has affirmed both boxers' eligibility for Olympic competition.

(With inputs from agencies.)