The International Federation of Muaythai Associations, or IFMA, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until 27 July 2019, is a sport governing body of amateur and professional Muay Thai and Muay boran consisting of 140 member countries worldwide with 5 continental federations after unification of International Federation of Muaythai Amateur and World Muaythai Council. IFMA is officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International World Games Association (IWGA), and Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA). Muaythai has been included in many official sport programs such as the World Games, World Combat Games, Arafura Games, TAFISA Games, SEA Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, Demonstration Sport in the Asian Games.

History The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) was officially inaugurated in 1993 as the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur, a small federation with several member countries. IFMA has grown to 128 member countries worldwide with 5 continental federations under a single, unified regulatory body. In 1998, IFMA was formally recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia. IFMA's objective is the total unification of all 128 member national federations, working mutually for the sport and the athletes.

At the IFMA Royal World Cup in Bangkok the AIMS conference took place gathering all 23 presidents from its members as well as representatives of IOC, FISU, IWGA, Peace and Sport, TAFISA and many others. The 2015 IFMA Royal World Cup displayed the rapid popularity of women competing in muaythai as the stadium quickly reached capacity during female bouts that displayed courage and heart. 93 countries participated in this event.

In December 2015 AIMS received provisional recognition by the IOC. The following year in December 2016 at the annual meeting of the IOC Executive Board, Muaythai with IFMA as the governing body, was granted provisional IOC recognition for a period of three years. This allows IFMA to receive funding from the IOC and apply for development programmes.

Timeline

Some of IFMA's milestones: 2005 – Inclusion in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) as a fully recognised medal sport. 2005 – Inclusion in the Asian Indoor Games (AIG). 2006 – Recognition from the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). 2008 – Inclusion in the Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA) Games and as a full member of the TAFISA Sport for All Organization. 2008 – Inclusion in the Arafura Games. 2009 – Inclusion in the Asian Martial Arts Games (AMAG). 2010 – Inclusion in the GAISF World Combat Games. 2013 – Inclusion in the International World Games Association (IWGA) 2013 – Inclusion in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG). 2014 – Inclusion in the Asian Beach Games. 2015 – International University Sports Federation (FISU) gives its patronage for University Muaythai Cup. 2015 – International University Sports Federation (FISU) has officially recognised muaythai signing the agreement between FISU and IFMA. 2016 – Provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee. 2019 – Fully recognition from the International Olympic Committee. 2019 – Unification with World Muaythai Council (WMC) and rebranded to International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).

IOC recognition

On December 6, 2016, the IOC Executive Board had provisionally recognised muaythai following an executive board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Governance

Executive committee NameRoleCountryH.E. General Pichit Kullavanijaya Honorary life president H.E. General Chetta Thanajaro Honorary life president Yeo Kyu-tae Honorary life president Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan President Stephan Fox Secretary general / Kajorn Prowsri Treasurer H.E. Karim Massimov Vice president İbrahim Murat Gündüz Vice president Elisa Salinas Vice president Driss El Hilali Vice president Sue Glassey Vice president Rafal Szlachta Vice president Somsak Leeswatrakul Vice president Gennadiy Trukhanov Vice president Patrick Van Acker Committee member Anatoliy Simonchik Committee member Janice Lyn Committee member Michael Reid Committee member Petr Ottich Committee member Nadir Allouache Committee member Detlef Turnau Committee member László Szabó Committee member Vacant Committee member Sami Kiblawi Committee member Dato' Shahnaz bin Azmi Committee member Sham Seetaram Committee member Rodrigo Jorquera Committee member Lucas Managuelod Committee member Ana Vital Melo Committee member Dmitry Putilin Committee member Mervyn Tan Committee member Gustavo Luna Committee member Kasra Ashami Committee member Charissa Tynan Committee member Erdoğan Aydın Committee member Halil Durna Committee member Tareq Al-Mhairi Committee member Michael Corley Committee member

President’s Advisory Council NameRoleCountryAmir Hussaini Advisory council member Ricky Tsang Advisory council member Javad Nasiri Advisory council member Wu Wei Keong Advisory council member Iztok Vorkapič Advisory council member

Commissions Commission ChairpersonCountryIFMA Technical & Rules Commission Dmitry Putilin IFMA Referee & Judge Commission Somchai Sripiew IFMA Medical Commission Erdoğan Aydın IFMA Finance Commission Sham Seetaram IFMA Sport & Active Society Commission Panida Ottesen IFMA Youth Commission Elisa Salinas IFMA Gender Equality Commission Sue Glassey IFMA Ethics Commission Caroline Baxter Tresise IFMA Press & PR Commission Toli Makris IFMA Business Commission Rolf Hess IFMA Legal Commission Mervyn Tan IFMA Athletes Commission Janice Lyn IFMA Entourage Commission Vacant IFMA Education Commission Dato' Shahnaz bin Azmi IFMA Culture & Heritage Commission Chao Wathayotha IFMA Professional Commission Kasra Ashami

Area associations International Federation of Muaythai Associations has a total of 122 member federations divided into 5 area associations.

EMF – European Muaythai Federation in Europe FAMA – Federation of Asian Muaythai Associations in Asia Africa OMF – Oceania Muaythai Federation in Oceania PAMU – Pan-American Muaythai Union in the Americas