Kathmandu— The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has ruled that Russian teams will not be permitted to participate in the 46th Chess Olympiad, scheduled for September 16-27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, continuing a ban initially imposed in 2022. The decision follows the lifting of restrictions on Belarusian athletes last month and has drawn sharp criticism from within Russia’s chess community, with accusations that FIDE is prioritizing politics over sport. While teams are barred, individual Russian players continue to compete under neutral status internationally. The ruling comes ahead of a scheduled presidential election for FIDE in Uzbekistan.

FIDE Decision and Russian Response

The FIDE Council’s decision on Sunday to maintain the exclusion of Russian teams from the Chess Olympiad has been met with strong condemnation from officials within the Russian Chess Federation. Aleksandr Tkachev, head of the federation, stated that the ruling contradicted FIDE's motto of “We are one family” and suggested personal interests were influencing Council members. He claimed those prioritizing the game over politics were outnumbered by individuals focused on their own careers.

Accusations of Russophobia

Russian chess legend Anatoly Karpov, a former world champion, leveled accusations of ‘Russophobia’ against FIDE leadership, asserting that the decision was politically motivated. He expressed hope for a change in direction following the upcoming presidential elections. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a previous FIDE president, also voiced his disapproval, stating he was “ashamed” of the decision and arguing sport should remain separate from political considerations.

Leadership Transition and Context

The current situation follows a leadership transition within FIDE, with Viswanathan Anand taking over as acting President last month after Arkady Dvorkovich stepped aside due to EU sanctions. Tkachev alleges that Anand initiated the decision to exclude Russia. This ruling marks Russia’s third consecutive absence from an over-the-board Chess Olympiad, having also been absent from events in Chennai (2022) and Budapest (2024).

Individual Participation Continues

Despite the team ban, Russian players continue to achieve success on the international stage under the FIDE flag. They recently secured four medals – one gold, two silver, and one bronze – at the Asian rapid and blitz championships held in Hong Kong last month. Moscow has consistently protested restrictions imposed on Russian athletes by international sporting organizations, deeming them politically motivated.

FIDE is scheduled to hold its presidential election during the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan later this month, potentially signaling a shift in leadership and future policy regarding Russian participation.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.