IFMA held a media conference alongside officials from the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand and the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand.

The aim was "to clarify recent issues circulating within the press".

The global governing body stated that there is no dispute with the International Federation for Kun Khmer but instead with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).

It has criticised NOCC general secretary Vath Chamroeun who "has been remiss inadvertently or otherwise in working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia-recognised IFMA".

IFMA then alleged the NOCC plagiarised its technical handbook used during the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

"Muaythai is not boycotting the event [Cambodia 2023] but due to the lack of proper jurisdiction of the organisation (non-IOC/non-World Anti-Doping Agency recognised), the safety of the athletes, the decision making process and in and out of competition testing, IFMA cannot allow their respective National Federations to participate in the SEA Games 2023 as 'muaythai'," read an IFMA statement.

"We would like to reiterate that there is no conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, however all IFMA and Federation of Asian Muaythai Associations National Federations in South East Asia will not participate in the event due to reasons outlined above."

IFMA then stated that it will not work with other martial arts federations that are not recognised by the IOC or WADA.

The World Boxing Council said muaythai was used as an example for showing "serious lapses in safety, procedural protocols and mismatching in the past and continues to display a lack of proper and appropriate accountability for their actions."

IFMA has officially banned any of its National Federations, member gyms, coaches or officials from participating in any events organised by non-recognised muaythai organisations.

Cambodia 2023 is set to take place from May 5 to 17 in capital city Phnom Penh.