Muay Thai will not become an Olympic sport in the near future due to the lack of concrete plans and continuous development, Thailand's member of the International Olympic Committee said yesterday.
Muay Thai lacks the judging systems and doping controls to be an Olympic sport.
There have been reports in the Thai media over the past few weeks that Muay Thai could soon become an Olympic discipline but IOC member Nat Indarapana sees it the other way round.
''It is extremely difficult for Muay Thai to be recognised by the IOC in the near future,'' Dr Nat told the Bangkok Post.
''The sport has become more popular worldwide but it still lacks proper systems in judging, safety and doping control. Also, women should be given more chances to fight. It must also free of conflict of interests.''
The International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) has been pushing for Thailand's traditional martial art to become an Olympic sport but Nat believes IFMA bosses have not done enough to get IOC approval.
''We will not see Muay Thai at the Olympics in the near future. It is a long process and the IFMA must worker harder,'' he said.
Dr Nat Indarapana.
''Organising activities to promote the sport is not enough _ you also need tournaments.''
For a sport to become an Olympic discipline, it must first get IOC recognition before it is included in the Olympic programme.
Meanwhile, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is not likely to defend his WBC super-flyweight boxing title until November.
The 26-year-old Thai knocked out Japan's Yota Sato in the eighth round to win the 115-pound title in his home province of Si Sa Ket last month.
His handlers said after the fight that they had already received two offers for Srisaket to defend the title in Japan against Nobuo Nashiro and Tomoki Kameda.
Nashiro, 31, failed in his last two attempts to win a world title, losing to WBC champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai in Thailand in 2011 and being defeated by WBA champion Tepparith Kokietgym in Japan last September.
The unbeaten Tomoki, 21, is the youngest boxer in the Kameda family.
His oldest brother Koki was the WBA light-flyweight and WBC flyweight champion while Daiki is now the WBA flyweight champion.
Although Japan is a preferred destination, Srisaket's manager Surachart Pisiwutthinan said he wanted Srisaket to make his title defence in Thailand when the country hosts the WBC Convention 2013 from Nov 3-9.
''As Thailand has only one world champion at the moment, I want Srisaket to fight during the convention,'' Surachart said.