Alisher Usmanov has voluntarily suspended his powers as President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), a representative of the businessman said.
“After his landslide victory, Alisher Usmanov stated that, guided by the interests of the FIE, he will take the necessary actions to avoid the extension of the legally untenable sanctions imposed on him to the FIE and its activities, and in this regard, he notified the FIE Executive Committee of his voluntary suspension of his powers. Everything must be resolved within the framework of the law and justice,” his representative said.
Alisher Usmanov was re-elected as President of the FIE at the federation’s congress on November 30 in Tashkent, receiving 120 votes. His rival, President of the Swedish Fencing Federation Otto Drakenberg, received 26 votes.
Alisher Usmanov has headed the FIE since 2008. In November 2021, he was re-elected as President of the federation for a new term as the only candidate in the elections. In March 2022, he suspended his powers due to sanctions imposed on him by the European Union, "until justice is restored." Since then, Emmanuel Katsiadakis of Greece had been serving as Interim president.
