Daniel Kinahan poses with MTK coach just days after boxing firm denied links to mob boss

The photograph was posted on Twitter last night by coach Danny Vaughan, the husband of former MTK Global CEO Sandra Vaughan.

Veteran trainer Vaughan can be seen standing proudly with Daniel Kinahan, boxers Sunny Edwards and 'Falcon' Waseem and trainer Grant Smith in a reception area in Dubai.

None of the four men standing in the image with Kinahan have any involvement in criminality.

Alongside the photograph, Vaughan has written 'Top Team.. Advisor Daniel Kinahan. #loyalty.'

Danny Vaughan describes himself as 'head coach' for MTK Global and has a long association with the company and worked for the firm when it was based in Spain and known as MGM.

His wife Sandra Vaughan is a close friend of Daniel Kinahan and has previously spoken in a glowing manner about the cartel chief.

She became the public face of MTK Global after Kinahan stated he was no longer involved in the firm.

On Thursday, MTK Global released a statement distancing themselves from Kinahan claiming he has not been involved with the company since February 2017.

It said: "MTK Global will comply fully with the sanctions made by the US government against Daniel Kinahan.

"MTK parted ways with Mr Kinahan in February 2017. He has had no interest in the business since then, and will have no future involvement with us. "MTK operates ethically, transparently and lawfully. We will cooperate fully with all authorities and assist with any ongoing investigations."

CEO of MTK Global, Bob Yalen, added: "MTK Global will take every measure to ensure the company, and those who deal with it are fully compliant with the US sanctions announced this week and take this matter extremely seriously."

On Monday, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a press release in which it detailed sanctions against Kinahan, his father Christopher Snr and brother Christopher Jnr and other members of the "Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG) for their criminal activities".

A US government official quoted in the press release noted that KOCG smuggles narcotics to Europe, launders money and commits murders as part of its criminal enterprise.

Earlier this week, Dublin boxer Jono Carroll became the first boxer to publically back Kinahan since the US government announced a $5 million reward for information on the cartel boss.

Taking to social media the 30-year-old reshared an old tweet praising the drug lord and said: “Mother f**kers can say what yous (sic) want, this man gave me opportunity’s (sic) in this sport and without him I would of (sic) walked away a long time ago, I stand by everything I said here, I’ll always be thankful for his help and guidance in this sport.”

The tweet he was referring to from February 2022 said: “Without this man I wouldn't be still in this boxing game, he's a true legend of the sport.”

“He should be celebrated from the boxing world, without him half of these big fights would never of happened, #facts #real #talk.”

One follower replied: “Jono I am fan. But this man has brought so much misery to Dublin's inner city and beyond.”

To which the lightweight boxer replied: “Thanks for the support my man I appreciate that.”

“But all that shit has nothing to do with me, I treat people how they treat me, and I’ve always got nothing but love a respect of him so he got that back the same way anyone would, So I don’t care about all the other bullshit.”

Another said: “Well at least you’ve said something. Been a quiet place the last few days.”

To which he again replied, defending Kinahan: “I’m just speaking my truth bro, I got good fights from his friendships with these promoters who are all gone quiet, but at the end of the day he got me good fights and I’ll be forever thankful, but the promoters pay the fighters just so everyone understands that shit.”

However, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris urged sports personalities and businesses to consider their involvement with the Kinahan crime gang.

Mr Harris said people who deal with those sanctioned are involving themselves with a criminal network.

He said they should look at their own businesses and relationships with their fans and consider if this is something they want to be involved with.

"In terms of some individuals, prominent sporting individuals who are in some way connected with this grouping, I would say look at your sport, your fans, and think of your own reputation because this is a very serious announcement today after a large amount of work."