According to IRNA; Roy Baker, President of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) in a letter entitled “The situation of kickboxing in Iran” on February 16, 2022 addressed to “Nasser Nasiri” President of the Iranian Kickboxing Association (WACO Iran) and the Asian Kickboxing Confederation If the current situation continues and the activities of different indigenous kickboxing styles in Iran, especially the Martial Arts Federation, the opportunity to participate in various international events approved by the International Olympic Committee and other IOC-approved international organizations will be lost.
In the text of the letter, Roy Baker, the head of Waco, addressed to Nasser Nasiri:
Given the various conversations we had with each other, I reiterate that the situation of kickboxing in Iran can not continue like this. When self-made and opposition groups, mainly from the Iranian Martial Arts Federation, pretend to be part of a well-defined international sport by adding a prefix or suffix to the name of our sport, “kickboxing”.
Waco is the only known authority in the world and Iran is the only country where this happens. As you are well aware, the current situation in addition to your organization in Iran, in neighboring countries, the Asian and international confederation is also confusing.
According to Fimabin, and if these conditions continue, WACO will give WACO Iran members the opportunity to participate in prestigious IOC events, World Games, Martial Arts, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, and the IOC-sponsored World and Asian Championships and other upcoming events. Or WAKO will not provide.
The Legal Committee of the Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WACO), which is in charge of kickboxing in Asia by the Asian Olympic Council, has also sent a similar letter to the WACO Association of Iran.
It should be noted that the Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WACO) in 2007 and 2013 due to some violations and problems of the officials of the Martial Arts Federation in Iran [فعالیت گروههای موازی و نامعتبر بینالمللی، استفاده غیر قانونی نام انجمن کیک بوکسینگ واکو]Barred Iranian athletes from participating in Macau indoor games as well as indoor competitions and South Korean martial arts.