Sarah Ourahmoune had thought long and hard before proposing to the president of the French Boxing Federation (FF Boxe), Dominique Nato, to form a tandem with her for the election of the future management team. But it was in haste that he resigned from running for this position, a victim “Racist and sexist attacks.” He announced this through an open letter written on Sunday, November 10 at the end of the evening, where he said he was the target of “words like “Arab on duty”, “federation cleaning lady”…, without forgetting the anonymous messages of incredible and deeply shocking violence”.
“I discover with sincere pain that my sport, the one I loved so much, is going through a period of suffering that goes beyond simple rivalries, continues the silver medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (JO). Our society is suffering and I am worried for all of us. »
This decision comes a few days after the presentation of lists for the elections at the head of FF Boxing, on Thursday, November 14, a month before the vote. Therefore, the idea of a NATO-Ourahmoune co-presidency, whose compatibility with federal statutes still needs to be verified, is no longer relevant and the outgoing leader should face the Rio Olympic medalist Estelle Mossely, who entered the campaign since mid of September.
In a press release published on Monday morning, November 11, Dominique Nato expresses his “ Full support for Sarah at this difficult time. The French Boxing Federation is at his side and reaffirms its commitment to leading the fights necessary to knock out. those who spread hatred and division.”
The head of FF Boxe, who knows Sarah Ourahmoune well, through her career of more than twenty years in the world of boxing, but also through her duties since she has held, since 2021, the position of vice president of the federation , also sees in this slanderous campaign the symptom of a more global malaise.
“The insults that have circulated in recent days on social media have deeply affected Sarah, who is an inspiring figure for our sport and our society, who embodies values of courage, tenacity and hope for the future. declares. His unwavering commitment to a united France respectful of all its components reminds us of the very essence of the noble art of boxing: facing adversity with honor and determination. »
“My decision to retire costs me enormously, Sarah Ourahmoune explains in more detail in her letter: But today I believe that my time, my energy and my values will find a better echo elsewhere, where I can be fully effective and useful.”.
Since his retirement from the sport, he has managed several professional activities, including a boxing and emancipation network through sports clubs, Boxer Inside, which he runs with former boxer Fancky Denis.
Estelle Mossely also says she is the target of personal attacks
On November 5, Sarah Ourahmoune confided to the World wanting to have more influence on the French federation project. “I do not want to return to a position of vice president, in which I could not perform as much as I would have liked, he said to justify the election of the co-presidency. We offer good complementarity with Dominique Nato, a distribution of responsibilities to manage professional and amateur boxing, the territories, the educational and social issues of our sport.”.
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The Nato-Ourahmoune duo also shared the strategic decision to leave the International Boxing Association (IBA), the most recognized institution since 2023 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and join the emerging World Boxing organization that could, in 2025, obtain the favor of the IOC. This decision, challenged by Estelle Mossely, will only be effective if it is validated by the elective general assembly on December 14.
A few days ago, Dominique Nato’s opponent for the presidency of the FF Boxe had questioned the Minister of Sports about the deleterious atmosphere of the electoral campaign and about certain personal attacks of which she also felt like a victim.
