The IMMAF considers legal action against GAISF

By Nicolas Davies, London, May 24, 2019: The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation IMMAF-WMMAA taking legal advice (legal action against GAISF) as the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) continues to reject IMMAF’s application for “observer” member status.

A sport must be officially recognise by GAISF before it can consider for inclusion in the Olympic programme and before it can recognise by many governments worldwide, affecting access to funding, professional services (medical, insurance etc.) and authority to safeguard participants.

Kerrith Brown and Vadim Finkelchtein and Densign White recently attended the GAISF SportAccord Convention in Gold Coast, seeking clarification as to why their application rejected in February.

White stated: “We given no explanation at all.

Over a period of 3 years we have done everything requested of us to gain the basic observer status at GAISF.

“We believe that we are being blocked, for political reasons, by influential representatives of other combat sports.

Although we would like to resolve the situation amicably, we are increasingly frustrating about a recognition system which appears to be neither transparent nor fair.

We have agreed a date in the Swiss Courts with WADA and, unless this issue resolves in a timely manner, we will take legal action against GAISF as well.”

IMMAF is responsible for the amateur sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and aims to standardize rules and regulations, ensure structures are in place to monitor the health and safety of participants,

improve the quality of licensed referees and judges, develop qualifications for coaches, creating competitor rankings, and, eventually, produce world champions and Olympic stars.

“This was due to competing claims from two world MMA governing bodies, IMMAF and WMMAA.

In 2018, our two organisations merged, bringing together the best, and we have continued to work hard to unify the sport.

Having addressed this rivalry objection, we continue to surprise by GAISF’s on-going rejection of our application and unwillingness to explain the reasons why.” —- IMMAF

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