IBFA UK splits from international body amid presidency dispute

Matthew Ali denies takeover claims and warns of legal action

By Gary Chappell

IBFA UK has split from its former international parent organisation following a dispute over governance and the federation’s UK presidency.

A social media post published by IBFA International suggested that Kenneth Brown had been appointed as the new president of IBFA UK.

However, current UK president Matthew Ali has strongly denied the claim, issuing a public statement rejecting any suggestion of a takeover and warning of potential legal action.

Ali, who took over leadership of IBFA UK from Martyn Yates Brown at the start of the 2025 season, confirmed that IBFA UK is no longer affiliated with the Italy-based organisation.

According to Ali, a committee meeting was held on December 1, 2025, attended by himself, his wife Natalie, photographer and committee member Anthony Chia-Bradley, and honorary president Martyn Yates Brown. At that meeting, it was agreed to change the meaning of the IBFA UK acronym from International Bodybuilding Fitness Organisation to Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Organisation.

Ali also confirmed that, in a letter dated October 9, 2025, he and his wife published The IBFA UK Constitution & Rules, formally establishing IBFA UK as “an unincorporated, non-profit association”.

The dispute escalated on Saturday, January 10, when IBFA official Temugin Filizola published a Facebook post. It read: “New IBFA UK President is Mr Kenneth Brown.”

The post further claimed that Brown would be authorised to send Team UK athletes to international IBFA competitions and organise national and international events in the UK in 2026. Comments on the post were restricted. The same announcement was reposted on Sunday, January 11.

Ali responded publicly with a strongly worded statement denying the claims. In his announcement, he said: “No one is taking over IBFA UK. I have legally registered IBFA UK and copyrighted the acronym ‘IBFA UK’.

"I have all the documentation showing that a committee was formed. And this is published on the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association website.

"There is a cease and desist in place. Anyone attempting to slander our name or profit from our organisation will face legal action.”

It means historical trips to compete in the IBFA Universe in Sapri, Italy and the World Championships in Rome will no longer go ahead for those competing with the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK. But it remains unclear whether those competitions will be available for those competing under the International Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK, under Kenneth Brown.

Ali has confirmed that his IBFA UK will hold a Mr & Miss Universe competition in Cardiff on July 12.

Replying to a request for comment from frontdouble.com, Ali said: "“I took over IBFA UK from former president Martyn Yates Brown with only four competitions remaining in the season, two of which were my own. I personally sponsored the Universe in Italy and the World Championships in Rome, both of which were very poorly attended.

“Since then, I have rebuilt IBFA UK from scratch, staging around eight shows of my own, including a sold-out British Finals with over 120 competitors. At the Rome World Championships there were approximately 20 to 30 competitors in total, 12 of whom were athletes I brought over.

“I offered to help grow the international finals but was told no. At that point, I decided to formally register IBFA UK as an Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association, with plans to stage finals both in the UK and internationally.

“I have provided documentation showing that the IBFA UK acronym is registered to me and that everything is legitimate. I then woke up to a social media post stating that Kenneth Brown was now IBFA UK president, despite receiving no communication whatsoever.

“I have received no correspondence from Temugin, who runs the international federation in Italy, and I have since been blocked.

“What I want to make clear is that IBFA UK is going from strength to strength. We have simply cut ties with the international federation, and they have done the same with us. That is the truth, and I have all the documents to support it."

No response from Filizola has been received at the time of publication.

This story will update.