Michael Conlan has distanced himself from a sports management group hit with sanctions as part of US Treasury moves against the Kinahan drugs cartel.
The former Olympic bronze medalist has insisted he has “no links” to MTK Global and hadn’t even heard of Hoopoe Sports - the company sanctioned by the US government on Tuesday.
This is despite the fact that the Belfast boxer has been listed as one of Hoopoe Sports clients and as an MTK Global boxer on its website.
A spokesperson for the boxer said Mr Conlan had not heard of the company Hoopoe Sports LLC until Tuesday, when it was linked to the Kinahan Organised Crime Group during a briefing held by gardaí, Europol, the UK’s National Crime Agency and US government and law enforcement officials.
Hoopoe Sports, a sports management company based in the UAE, was sanctioned as part of the US government’s measures, with the Department of the Treasury listing Ian Thomas Dixon as the person who owns or controls the company.
Dixon (32) was listed as one of seven individuals to be sanctioned, “for providing material assistance to, or acting on behalf of, Daniel Joseph Kinahan”.
However, a spokesperson for Michael Conlan insisted he was represented by a new company set up by his brother Jamie last year.
The spokesperson said: “Michael has no links to MTK Global. Him (sic) and Jamie set up their independent management and promotional company, Conlan Boxing, in July 2021 and Michael is managed by Jamie through this.
“Michael hadn’t heard of Hoopoe Sports until yesterday and has no connection with them.
“Michael wasn’t aware that he was on the MTK website or the Hoopoe Sports website until yesterday and is taking the necessary steps to get his inclusion removed.”
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