Exclusive interview: How 'governance, standards and a disputed incident fractured IBFA'

By Gary Chappell

IBFA UK president Matthew Ali claims the IBFA split was rooted in governance failures, declining international standards and a breakdown in trust following an alleged serious conduct incident at last season’s British Championships.

Ali says the move towards independence began not as an act of defiance, but as a practical necessity.

In order to open a community bank account and formalise UK operations, Ali says he was required to register an entity in his own name. That process, completed in October, led to the registration of the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK, while continuing to operate domestically under the IBFA UK banner.

Ali said: “The ‘independent’ part didn’t start as a breakaway. It started because I needed to open a proper bank account. To do that, I had to register a name and I wasn’t prepared to run UK shows through someone else’s identity.”

Allegations of misconduct at British Championships

According to Ali, tensions escalated following an incident at last season’s British Championships in Blackpool, involving a German-linked sponsor.

Ali alleges the individual became intoxicated, accused judges of fixing results, and caused distress backstage. He says he initially attempted to defuse the situation and allowed the individual to remain at the event and present trophies.

Ali said: “The guy in question was Kyle Vice. His father, Terry, competed in the show and came second. Kyle went backstage and started screaming and shouting about the result, saying we had fixed it. Kyle’s father said, ‘Listen, stop, I’m happy with the result, stop acting like this.’ But Kyle was saying, ‘No, no, Martin [Yates Brown] fixed it.’

“I asked Kyle what was going on and he said, ‘Let’s go outside. You’ve got a problem because I’m IBFA Germany.’”

Ali says the individual was removed from the venue but later asked to return after apologising. “Security told me he was outside saying he was sorry, so I let him back in and allowed him to present the trophies for the class he sponsored.

“But after the show, people started messaging me saying they were really offended by what had gone on. So Martyn [honorary president Martyn Yates Brown] and I spoke and decided we had to make an example of it. That’s when we issued a lifetime ban.”

Ali says that ban was not well received internationally. “They told me it had to be discussed with other countries,” he said. “That’s when things started to change.”

Concerns over international standards

Ali also raised concerns about standards at recent international events, including the World Championships in Rome, which he says featured fewer than 30 competitors – nearly half of them from the UK.

He claims UK athletes were returning unimpressed, which he believes damaged the credibility of domestic titles.

Ali said: “When I went to the World Championships in Rome there were about 20 to 30 competitors in total – 12 of them were mine. Without the UK team there wouldn’t have been a show. There were people doing a class where they were the only competitor in it. I said it was devaluing the federation. In Britain, any one of my overall winners could take the Worlds easily.

“Without the 12 athletes we brought over, there wouldn’t have been a show. There was even one guy who did six or so classes.”

Ali also criticised the quality of trophies used at the IBFA Worlds and Universe. “Another bit of feedback I gave them was that they give women trophies of men,” he said. “Women don’t want a man’s trophy. Temugin [Filizola, of IBFA Italy] said, ‘Women like the trophies,’ but I told him I’d spoken to my athletes and they don’t.

“They’re made of Plaster of Paris – you make them yourself – and sometimes they crumble or break in people’s hands.”

Rejected proposals and breakdown in communication

Ali says he repeatedly offered to help rebuild the international calendar by hosting a Universe competition in the UK, saying he could guarantee strong numbers and support from British athletes. He claims those proposals were rejected, which he says further contributed to the IBFA split.

Instead, Ali says he was offered the opportunity to host a World Championships in France in 2027, but only if he cancelled his independently organised UK Universe.

“That’s where it stopped making sense to me,” he said. “If I’m trusted to host a world championship in another country, why can’t I host my own independent show at home? I also said I would still support their finals and bring the biggest team of all countries.”

Ali claims he later received a message from Temugin Filizola stating this was the final offer.

“He said, ‘Cancel the Universe and I can give you the World Championships in France in autumn 2027.’

“Why would I want a show in France in 2027? I don’t know anyone there. I can’t put a big show on. I told him I was already registered as independent – he knew that – and that I was going to run the Mr Universe as an independent show and still bring a team to them.

“My shows in the UK have no impact on theirs in Sapri or Rome. We bring them the most athletes. The Universe on July 12 in Cardiff will go ahead as an independent competition.”

Ali claims Filizola responded with an angry-face emoji.

After refusing to cancel the UK-based Universe, Ali says communication broke down. He claims he was blocked by international officials and later became aware of social media posts announcing Kenneth Brown as president of IBFA UK, the position Ali held.

Cease and desist notices followed, along with public confirmation that IBFA UK had been registered in October as the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK.

Shortly afterwards, the Italy-based federation launched IBFA GB, formally establishing a separate UK pathway.

Ali insists the split was not about walking away, but about being prevented from building what he believes the federation needed to survive.

“This wasn’t me going off and doing my own thing,” he said. “I was trying to raise standards, grow numbers and protect what we’d built in the UK.”

IBFA GB declined to respond to the claims outlined in this interview.

In correspondence with Frontdouble, a representative writing on behalf of IBFA GB said: “We offer absolutely zero response to the matter in question and will not respond to Matthew’s claims.”

Temugin Filizola of the Italy-based IBFA and IBFA GB secretary Kyle Vice were both contacted for comment. At the time of publication, no response had been received.

All allegations referenced in this article are attributed claims made by Matthew Ali during an interview with Frontdouble.com. No findings of wrongdoing are asserted as fact.

Further reading on IBFA split:

IBFA splits from international body

Italy-based federation reveals IBFA GB

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