Alisher Usmanov may reclaim leadership role in international fencing

The International Fencing Federation has registered Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov as a candidate for its presidential position, as reported on the organization’s official website.

Usmanov’s candidacy is backed by fencing federations from over a hundred countries. In the upcoming IFF congress, scheduled for November 30 in Tashkent, he will be competing against Sweden's Otto Drakenberg for the role.

Previously, Usmanov served as IFF president and a major patron of the sport from 2008 until March 2022, when he stepped down due to international sanctions. Emmanuel Katsiadakis currently holds the position of interim president.

Usmanov, a former member of the Uzbekistan SSR youth fencing team and later the USSR national team, has a deep-rooted connection to fencing, including a master’s degree in sports.

In August, German journalist Joachim Zeppelt from ARD TV released a report on fencing at the Paris Olympics, accusing Usmanov of allegedly bribing referees. In response, Usmanov filed a criminal complaint in Cologne against Zeppelt, resulting in a Hamburg court ruling that prohibited the dissemination of "suspicious, unsubstantiated reports." The TV channel later acknowledged that its claims were incorrect.