Controversy has once again engulfed Serbian karate after the Serbian Karate Federation suspended former world and European champion Slobodan Bitevic pending a final disciplinary decision following his public criticism of the state of the sport.
Serbian karate has been led by Slavoljub Piper since 2010. Piper also sits on the Executive Board of the European Karate Federation, whose presidency has been held by Spain’s Antonio Espinós since 1997.
Bitevic, speaking in a video interview with Serbian sports media Sportal, expressed deep concern over what he described as the decline of karate, including the rising cost of participation, the loss of athletes, the closure of clubs and what he alleged was the misuse of public funding.
He also accused the Serbian federation of creating what he described as a system of privilege around a small group of people.
“Darkness has taken over karate,” Bitevic said. “As a former world and European champion, it is painful for me to see what is happening today and to see karate fall to this level.”
Slobodan Bitevic, speaking with Sportal
“It is really painful when you have to explain to a teenager that even if they become national champion, they will not go to the World or European Championships because they are not accepted by the system, because their coach is not part of the federation system or does not follow the path they want,” he said.
He further spoke about his efforts to organise educational seminars in Serbia and other countries in the region, saying he had wanted to pass on his experience to younger athletes.
According to Bitevic, however, the Serbian Karate Federation prevented him from doing so.
“When I saw this, I realised that in the sport to which I have given the most effort and achieved the most, people like me are seen as a threat,” he said. “That was the moment when I felt defeated and frustrated.”
Bitevic also claimed that karate was losing coaches and athletes every year.
“I am truly sorry to see coaches and athletes leaving karate,” he said. “Every year, around ten clubs, or even more, either join other federations or close down.”
His concerns have also received public support from Jovana Preković, the Olympic gold medallist. Preković said the problems facing Serbian karate were not new and had continued for years.
Christophe Pinna
The dispute has now taken on an international dimension following comments by Christophe Pinna, a renowned World Karate Federation champion and one of the leading figures behind the organisation of the WKF Athletes Commission.
In a recent video, Pinna spoke about what he described as attempts by the Serbian Karate Federation to obstruct an educational seminar he is due to hold in Belgrade.
Addressing Antonio Espinós directly, Pinna said that Espinós could not dictate who should or should not be allowed to attend his seminars.
Speaking to SportsIn, Pinna said he would soon travel to Belgrade to conduct the seminar, but claimed that the WKF and the Serbian Karate Federation had created obstacles for athletes wishing to take part.
“In my view, this is neither acceptable nor consistent with the rights of athletes,” Pinna told SportsIn.
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