Umar Kremlev (ru: Умар Назарович Кремлёв; born as Umar Nazarovich Lutfuloev[1] on November 1, 1982 in Serpukhov) is a Russian sports functionary who has served as the President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) since 2020.[2] He has been Secretary General and Member of the Executive Committee of the Boxing Federation of Russia since February 2017.[3] In 2022, IBA members voted against holding an election, 106-36, allowing Kremlev to remain IBA president.[4]
Umar Kremlev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th President of the International Boxing Association | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Moustahsane |
| Secretary General of Russian Boxing Federation | |
| In office 2017–2021 | |
| Succeeded by | Kirill Shekurtsov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1, 1982 Serpukhov, Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Russia |
| Spouse | Anastasia Kremleva |
| Education | Moscow State Academy of Public Utilities and Construction. |
| Occupation | President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) |
| Profession | Sports administrator |
| Sports career | |
| Sport | Boxing |
Under Kremlev's tenure as IBA head, he has heavily marketed himself, moved the body's operations to Russia, suspended Ukraine from competing, and made the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom the IBA's sole sponsor.[5][6] IBA's relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deteriorated under Kremlev's tenure.[5] The IOC decertified the IBA and took control of the boxing competition from the IBA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, just as it had done at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[5] The IOC stated that the IBA had failed to address governance, finance and corruption concerns.[7] Kremlev called IOC President Thomas Bach a "chief sodomite", and stirred controversy for claiming that female boxer Imane Khelif failed her gender test after she beat a Russian boxer.[5][6]
Early life
Kremlev was born on November 1, 1982 in Serpukhov, Moscow region. He was engaged in boxing at the local sports palace. Kremlev practiced boxing in his hometown under the guidance of coach Alexei Galeev. He left boxing at the age of 19.[8] Kremlev graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Public Utilities and Construction.[9]
Later life
In 2010, Kremlev officially changed his name from Umar Lutfulloyev.[10] Possible reasons for the name change include trading a Tajik surname for a more Russian sounding one, and attempting to distance himself from a youthful criminal history, including a conviction for extortion in 2004 and battery in 2007.[11]
It is claimed that Kremlev worked in a transport company Transstroykom LLC and from 2009 to 2012 he served as President of Center for Strategic Development and Modernization.[12]
In 2016, with the support of the leadership of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, in particular Alexey Rubizhny, he became Secretary General and then President of the Boxing Federation of Russia. Kremlev claims that the federation exists on private funds and does not receive financial injections from government. The main sponsors of the federation are the bookmaker company Liga Stavok and the National Lottery, which, according to Proekt's investigation, actually belong to Kremlev himself. Also among the federation's partners was the car dealer Rolf, which, according to investigation, also came under Kremlev's control.[11]
In 2020-2023, with the assistance of state structures, Kremlev gained significant control over the Russian betting market. This was facilitated by legislative changes initiated at a high level. In 2020, a law on a single betting accounting center was passed, and in 2021, a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Kremlev's company TsUPIS as the single operator of all bookmaker betting in the country. Kremlev also became the beneficiary of three of Russia's largest betting companies: Fonbet, Pari and Liga Stavok. In addition, he gained control over the Unified Gambling Regulator, which was created to oversee betting activities.[11]
In 2020, he was elected president of the International Boxing Association (IBA). Kremlev's election caused mixed reactions in the international boxing community due to his past and ties to Russian authorities. Under Kremlev's leadership, the IBA signed a sponsorship contract with Gazprom, which intensified conflict with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It organizes international tournaments not recognized by the IOC. In 2023, Kremlev was part of the official Russian delegation during the Russian president's visit to China.[11]
Career
Umar has been involved in boxing since his youth. Until July 2017, he was Head of Patriot Boxing Promotions and worked with such leading boxers as Roy Jones Jr.,[13] Fedor Chudinov,[14] Dmitry Chudinov and Mikhail Aloyan. Now he is working at the Boxing Progress Center in Moscow.[15]
On 1 February 2017, Kremlev became General Secretary and Member of the Executive Committee of the Russian Boxing Federation.
On 3 November 2018, Kremlev was elected (63 votes) to the Executive Committee of the International Boxing Association (AIBA, later IBA) at the AIBA Congress in Moscow and thus became the first Russian to be nominated Member of AIBA Executive Committee.[16][17][18]
On 23 February 2019, he was elected First Vice-President of the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) by a majority of votes (25 out of 40) at the EUBC General Assembly held in Moscow.[19][20]
On 21 November 2019, Kremlev was nominated as Chairman of AIBA Marketing Commission at the AIBA Extraordinary Executive Committee Meeting; he later organized AIBA Continental Forums for the countries of the Americas, Oceania and Asia in 2020.[21][22]
He won a vote of 57.33 per cent to replace Mohamed Moustahsane of Morocco to serve as AIBA's President, on 12 December 2020. The election was held virtually at AIBA’s ongoing congress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was attended by 155 National Federations from five continents.[23]
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been concerned about the IBA under Kremlev's leadership.[24] Kremlev has ties to Vladimir Putin, has moved much of the IBA's operations from Lausanne, Switzerland to Russia, has spent heavily on apparent self-promotion, and has opposed independent appointment of judges and referees.[24][25] The IOC has also been alarmed by the fact that the IBA's only sponsor was a Russian state-owned energy company (Gazprom) that supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[24] although Kremlev said that sponsorship ended in December 2022.[26][27] The statement was later refuted in August 2024 by Chris Roberts, IBA's British chief, who confirmed that Gazprom were still an IBA sponsor.[28] In September 2022, the IBA voted against a presidential election, cementing Kremlev's position as the organization's president.[24]
In 2023, the IBA suspended two fighters, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, on unspecified grounds.[6] Khelif was suspended shortly before her gold medal bout against Chinese boxer Yang Liu,[29] three days after defeating Azalia Amineva, a previously unbeaten Russian prospect, at the IBA's world championships.[6] Kremlev would later state that Khelif failed a gender test without providing proof.[6] No evidence has been presented that Khelif has XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone.[5] Kremlev said the tests were carried out by medical professionals "at the request of female athletes" and after "the women's coaches complained a lot", and claimed that he could not release the medical records of the two tested athletes because it contained their personal and genetic data.[30] Khelif has been deemed eligible for all other boxing competitions, including the Olympics.[5]
On September 2, 2024, Kremlev, still the head of IBA, was announced as the new owner of the state-run car dealership Rolf.[31]
Awards
- Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland”, II degree (on 11 March 2020) for a great contribution to the development of physical culture and sport and diligent work.[32][33]
- Certificate of Honor of President of the Russian Federation, the medal "25 years since the establishment of the Presidential Security Service", received gratitude from President of the Russian Federation "for many years of diligent work and active social activities" and the Cross of the International Order of St. George Glory.[34]
See also
References
External links
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