“The Vote was Democratic” – IOC Responds to Suspension of Usmanov’s Powers in FIE

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stated that Alisher Usmanov’s election as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) was democratic, TASS reports.

«The vote was were democratic with a significant majority. We were informed this morning that Usmanov took the same steps to protect the international federation that he had taken before,» Bach said.

Usmanov was elected FIE president on November 30 but suspended his powers the following day. He did so to protect the organisation from the sanctions imposed against him. Emmanuel Katsiadakis, a representative from Greece, is temporarily fulfilling the duties of president.