Alisher Usmanov steps down as FIE president following re-election

Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has voluntarily stepped down as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), according to RIA Novosti.

Usmanov had been re-elected as FIE president during the organization's congress in Tashkent on November 30. However, the following day, he announced his decision to resign voluntarily.

"After winning the election by a landslide, Alisher Usmanov, acting in the interests of the FIE, announced that he would take the necessary measures to prevent the unjustified sanctions imposed on him from affecting the FIE and its activities. In this regard, the FIE Executive Committee should voluntarily suspend his powers, and everything should be resolved within the framework of law and justice," a representative for Usmanov stated.

Usmanov first assumed the FIE presidency in 2008 and was re-elected three consecutive times. However, he stepped down from his position in 2022 due to the situation in Ukraine. In October 2024, he was registered as a candidate for the FIE presidency, gaining support from fencing federations in over 100 countries.