Sanctioned billionaire Alisher Usmanov elected president of International Fencing Federation after three-year hiatus in Uzbekistan

Nov 30, 2024, 02:10 PM

Alisher Usmanov has been elected president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) during a congress held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the city of his birth. This marks Usmanov's return to the position after a three-year hiatus, during which he faced extensive sanctions from the US and EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His election raises questions about the influence of sanctioned individuals in international sports organizations. The decision has drawn mixed reactions, highlighting the complexities of governance in global sports amid geopolitical tensions.