Fifty-one prominent figures in international karate, including world champions and referees, have signed a letter urging the suspension of the Karate Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and calling for protective mechanisms for Iranian athletes to compete under the WKF or IOC flags. The letter alleges links between the federation and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, citing the killing of athletes and restrictions on competing against Israeli opponents. The WKF, IOC, and Iranian authorities have not yet responded.

The Kosovo national karate team was prevented from participating in the European Karate Championships in Cyprus due to host country restrictions, despite being a full member of the World Karate Federation (106). This incident, alongside the barring of English athletes, has drawn criticism of the World Karate Federation and the European Karate Federation for failing to protect athletes' rights and uphold Olympic principles. The Sports Above Politics Movement has accused the European Karate Federation of negligence and discrimination, highlighting the importance of ensuring athletes can compete without political interference or restrictive conditions. The situation underscores ongoing political complexities surrounding Kosovo's recognition and raises questions about the suitability of host countries with political reservations towards participating nations.

Dozens of English karate athletes, coaches, and referees have been barred from participating in the World Karate Federation (WKF) European Championships in Limassol due to safeguarding and governance concerns. A complaint to Athlete365, the IOC's athlete engagement platform, highlighted the lack of a clear safeguarding framework within the WKF, stemming from ongoing conflicts within British karate. The situation has led to the exclusion of many from WKF-sanctioned events, impacting athletes like Tyler Jones. The English Karate Federation (EKF) continues to operate independently despite the emergence of ENKGB, and the WKF's recognition of the British Karate Federation over the home nations is a contributing factor. The EKF recently held an AGM, resolving to change its legal status to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Recent incidents at the Karate1 Series A event in Tbilisi, where an Iranian athlete refused to compete against an Israeli opponent, have highlighted a recurring pattern of Iranian athletes avoiding Israeli competitors. The World Karate Federation (WKF) has faced criticism for its largely silent response to these politically motivated withdrawals, which violate the Olympic Charter's principles of non-discrimination and fair play. Similar incidents have occurred in previous years, with the WKF sometimes facilitating symbolic matches to preserve ranking points. These actions raise concerns about the WKF's ability to enforce anti-discrimination rules and uphold the ideals of Olympism, with other nations like Kuwait also exhibiting similar behavior. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) may face pressure to address the issue.

Global Athlete has urged the World Karate Federation (WKF), UK Sport, and the IOC Athletes’ Commission to intervene in a governance crisis affecting British karate athletes. The organization raised concerns about transparency, athlete treatment, and a dispute leading to the exclusion of athletes and the formation of a new federation (ENKGB). The situation stems from financial account issues and a vote of no confidence against the British Karate Federation (BKF) president, Roger Williams, and a lack of transparency regarding funding and donations. UK Sport allocated significant funding to British karate athletes, with a portion going directly to the BKF.