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German journalist admits his charges against FIE president were false

In August 2024, the nationwide German TV channel ARD published two articles and a video report on fencing competitions at the Paris Olympics in which Hans-Joachim Seppelt accused Alisher Usmanov, of setting up a system of bribing judges in this sport

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. German journalist Hans-Joachim "Hajo" Seppelt has acknowledged the inaccuracy of his allegations concerning Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov and the alleged system of bribing judges in the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Usmanov's press service reported to TASS.

"Seppelt signed a personal statement acknowledging the termination of illegal actions against Usmanov," the press service said. "With this document, Seppelt confirmed his commitment not to spread false statements made in his report on the German TV channel ARD in August 2024 and expressed his readiness to bear responsibility if he violated his obligations."

In August 2024, the nationwide German TV channel ARD published two articles and a video report on fencing competitions at the Paris Olympics in which Seppelt accused Usmanov, who had voluntarily suspended himself as FIE president in early 2022 due to EU sanctions, of, among other things, setting up a system of bribing judges in this sport.

"The falsity of the insinuations made by Mr. Seppelt on ARD was so obvious that in the end, this journalist and the broadcaster made the only right decision: the broadcaster recognized the injunction, and Seppelt signed a letter containing a pledge to stop illegal actions," said Usmanov’s lawyer, Joachim Steinhoefel. "Someone who is unable to provide proof of defamation has no choice but to admit that honest and informed journalism was never his goal. In fact, he merely sought to discredit the International Fencing Federation, its President Alisher Usmanov, and all representatives of this sport."

On October 25, the German broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), which published Seppelt's charges on the ARD TV channel, conceded that this content was inaccurate. Usmanov filed a criminal complaint with the Cologne prosecutor’s office against Seppelt for spreading defamatory statements.

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