PARIS, December 10. /TASS/. The president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) told TASS that he hailed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) drive toward gender equality in sports, but believed that this initiative should run a natural path.

Heated discussions regarding gender equality in the FIE erupted last Saturday during the annual FIE Congress, held this weekend in Paris. Delegates of the Congress came up with a proposal to fix the female representation in the FIE at the mark of 30%. A decision on the proposal was eventually suspended.

"I treat women in sports with great respect," FIE President Alisher Usmanov said in an interview with TASS. "However, I believe that we are faced at the moment with an artificial situation, when the level of women’s representation in fencing is subject to being raised or lowered to a certain mark."

"We have clear-cut professionalism criteria and this must be pivotal in the decision of such issues," the FIE chief stated.

"Fencing is open to everyone, we welcome female athletes, but this issue should be in the purview of national federations," he said. "Professionalism is the priority. It is worth noting that some of sporting disciplines are for females only."

"However, I utterly agree with the initiative of gender equality since it is the only way for unity both in sports and in human history," Usmanov added.

The French capital of Paris hosted this weekend the annual FIE Congress, which was also dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the world’s governing body of fencing. The honorary guests of the event in Paris included President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, heads of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), sports ministers from around the globe as well as famous movie stars and other celebrities.