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Russia’s Usmanov steps down as president of global fencing

"The Executive Committee has accepted and ratified Mr. Alisher Usmanov's decision to suspend the exercise of his powers and duties as President of the FIE," the statement said

MOSCOW, December 4. /TASS/. Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has voluntarily stepped down from his post as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), the federation’s press office announced in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Executive Committee of the FIE met on December 1, 2024 and was informed of Alisher Usmanov's decision to voluntarily suspend the exercise of his powers and duties as President of the International Fencing Federation in order to ensure efficient operations of the federation," the statement reads.

"The Executive Committee has accepted and ratified Mr. Alisher Usmanov's decision to suspend the exercise of his powers and duties as President of the FIE," the statement continued.

"In accordance with Article 5.1 of the FIE Statutes, under which the management of the FIE in between Congresses is entrusted to an Executive Committee, and in order to ensure the smooth running of the FIE, the Executive Committee appointed Mr. Emmanuel Katsiadakis as Interim President," the FIE press office stated adding that "Emmanuel Katsiadakis has accepted.

"As Interim President, he will therefore assume all the functions of the President of the FIE, as provided for in the FIE Statutes and other regulations. The Executive Committee's decision will be submitted to the FIE Congress for ratification at its next meeting," the statement added.

Usmanov, 71, previously served as the president of the International Fencing Federation between 2002 and 2022. He also served as the president of the Russian Fencing Federation from 2001-2009 and helmed the European Fencing Federation (EFF) between 2005 and 2009.

At the FIE Election Conference in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on November 30, Usmanov was re-elected as FIE president. Running against him in the election were acting FIE President Emmanuel Katsiadakis from Greece and former Swedish Olympian Otto Drakenberg.

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