The boxers of the Kosovo representative were not allowed to enter the territory of Serbia this morning, through the border crossing in Dheun e Bardhë. Due to this ban, Albania has announced that it will not participate in the Boxing Championship, which is being held in Belgrade.
The Kosovo delegation, consisting of five members, three boxers, the selector, and the secretary of the Boxing Federation, had left for Serbia to participate in the World Boxing Championship, which is being held in Belgrade this year.
Besim Brahimi, the selector of the Boxing Federation of Kosovo, told Radio Free Europe that the Serbian authorities asked the Kosovo athletes, as a condition to enter Serbia, to remove the uniforms with the state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo.
This request was not accepted by the Kosovo delegation.
"We are going to represent the state of Kosovo in Belgrade and I must present myself equally as all other federations," said Brahimi.
Meanwhile, the Boxing Federation of Albania has warned that it will not participate in the championship to be held in Belgrade if the participation of Kosovo is not allowed.
Nelson Hysa, the captain of the team, told Radio Free Europe that the head coach of the team, Zef Gjoni, told the representatives of the World Boxing Federation that they will not complete if Kosovo does not participate.