Sanctioned Russian oligarch Usmanov heads International Fencing Federation.

Alisher Usmanov becomes the new president of the International Fencing Federation

Alisher Usmanov received 120 votes in the elections and became the new president of the International Fencing Federation. His opponent Otto Drakenberg received only 26 votes. The previous two years, Manolis Katsiadakis from Greece held this position.

Usmanov resigned after sanctions

Usmanov resigned from the presidency of the federation in 2022 after being sanctioned by the European Union. He was also sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan due to his support for Russian aggression.

Ukrainian organizations call to maintain the ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes

Ukrainian sports organizations and the government demand that the International World Games Association maintain the ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in upcoming competitions in China. They emphasized that aggression from Russia and Belarus continues, and the ban should last until this aggression ceases. Ukrainians also pointed out the association's position regarding the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in the 2022 competitions.

Ukrainian leaders addressed the association with a letter

Ukrainian ministers Matviy Bidny and Andriy Sybiha, as well as the president of the Sports Committee of Ukraine Ilya Shevlyak, wrote a letter to the association calling for solidarity and support. This letter expresses support for the ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and emphasizes the necessity of the duration of this ban.