Myanmar Lethwei Federation

On April 28, 2021, Dave Leduc criticized Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek and historical figure Nai Khanom Tom in a social media post. Leduc questioned the veracity and claimed that the Nai Khanom Tom folklore story is exaggerated and that he was simply a prisoner in ancient Burma, referring to Siamese prisoners captured by Burmese troops during the Burmese–Siamese War.[12][13] The post sparked considerable backlash from the Muaythai and combat sports community. In a letter, the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation explained that Muaythai promoters made a complaint about Leduc. Muaythai promoter Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong urged the MTLF to reprimand Leduc.[14][15] According to the MTLF, Leduc had "committed personal attacks" on Buakaw Banchamek and Muaythai history potentially tarnishing the relationship between Myanmar and Thailand.[16] The federation issued a two-year ban Lethwei competitions under the MTLF.[17] There were speculations that the ban was political due to Leduc denouncing the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état and supporting the freedom movement in the Myanmar.[18][19]

In response to the letter, Dave Leduc wrote on social media: "They’re not the World Lethwei Federation (WLF), the WLF is the most powerful, they have affiliated federations all accross [sic] the world [...] Nobody in the world tells me anything. The World Lethwei Federation can’t, and especially not the MTLF"[20] "They made an “official letter” saying they ban me from their federation “for 2 years” Am I supposed to care? Not only do I not care, I will go further and say: I will never fight in their federation (MTLF) ever again." Leduc added.[21][18][22][23]