A group of leading Bulgarian athletes, including Olympic and world champions, has issued an unprecedented declaration revealing serious irregularities in the management of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation (BAF).
In an official statement, supported by over 20 distinguished athletes, the legitimacy and transparency of the General Assembly held on August 1, 2025, are being questioned. Among the signatories are world record holders such as Yordanka Blagoeva, Tereza Marinova, and Hristo Markov.
The main accusations are directed at the Board member Dobromir Karamarinov, whom the athletes accuse of manipulating the election process. They demand immediate cancellation of the decisions made and convening a new, fully legitimate General Assembly.
The declaration raises sharp questions about the federation's management model, emphasizing three key principles that, according to the athletes, are missing:
● Transparent and fair leadership selection
● Respecting the voice of clubs and athletes
● Accountability to society and international sports institutions
Among the signatories are some of the most prominent Bulgarian athletes, including Sofka Popova - indoor European champion, Tsvetelina Kirilova - Olympic participant, and Militza Mircheva - the first Bulgarian to participate in an Olympic marathon.
The athletes categorically call for the intervention of competent state authorities, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Prosecutor's Office, to investigate procedural violations.
Particularly indicative is the appeal to European and world federations to be informed about the situation, which shows the seriousness of the internal conflict in Bulgarian athletics.
Among the signatories are also established coaches like Ivaylo Rusenov and Lyubomira Brumbanova, which further emphasizes the scale of discontent.
Asen Hristov, a long-time vice president of the BAF until 2023, is also among those supporting the statement, which further increases the weight of the criticisms.
The document concludes with a decisive statement that the athletes will not remain "passive, blind, and mute witnesses" to behind-the-scenes practices that compromise the development of Bulgarian athletics.
The declaration was distributed through the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) without editorial intervention, which underscores its authenticity and significance.
It remains to be seen how the BAF leadership will react to these unprecedented accusations and whether they will take steps to restore trust within the sports community.