The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and Confederacao Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu (CBJJ) have issued a decisive response to allegations involving Melqui Galvao, announcing a permanent ban from all affiliated activities.
The statement came just hours after reports surfaced that Galvao had allegedly been arrested in Brazil, marking an unusually swift reaction from the sport’s leading governing bodies.
At the time of writing, details surrounding the full scope of the allegations remain limited, and the situation continues to develop.
Despite that, both organizations moved quickly to take a firm stance.
Their decision leaves no ambiguity: Galvao will no longer be permitted to participate in any events under IBJJF or CBJJ governance.
While the move has been widely viewed as a strong signal toward maintaining integrity within the sport, it also raises immediate questions about the athletes connected to him.
Galvao has built a prominent team over the years, and many competitors have represented his academy at major tournaments.
It remains unclear how the organizations will handle those affiliations moving forward.
One likely outcome is that athletes may be required to register under different teams or compete independently.
Another possibility is a restructuring of the team itself, including changes to its name and leadership.
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