No words: Ukrainian Olympic fencing champion on Russian oligarch's election as president of International Fencing Federation

Olympic fencing champion Olha Kharlan has reacted to the election of Russian citizen Alisher Usmanov as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Source: Kharlan on Instagram

Quote: "FIE Congress Presidential Election decision ... No, I'm not surprised. Unfortunately. Yes, I am disappointed in the fencing world. Disappointed in those who decided to play ‘this game’.

120 federations... that's a lot. So yeah. A lot of disappointment. No words anymore," Kharlan wrote.

The election took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Usmanov received 120 votes, while his sole opponent, Otto Drakenberg, president of the Swedish Fencing Federation, received only 26.

It should be noted that following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Usmanov resigned as president of the organisation in 2022 after being sanctioned by the EU and the UK. He had led the federation since 2008.

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