FIDE Suspends Russia for Violating Chess Event Rulings in Ukraine
FIDE's Decision and Its Implications
Background of the Suspension
June 11 (Reuters) - The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has suspended Russia's membership for up to three years for its failure to comply with a ruling that it should cease holding events in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.
Victory for Ukraine and Allied Federations
The decision, announced in a FIDE statement, is a victory for Ukraine and allied chess federations that have campaigned for the sport's governing bodies to take a harder line against Russia in the wake of its 2022 full-scale invasion.
Details of the Violation
FIDE said Russia's chess federation had not stopped organising events in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions and on the annexed Crimean peninsula, in violation of a March order by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Official Statement from FIDE
"The (FIDE) Council resolves to impose the sanction of temporary suspension of membership of the respective Member Federation (Russia) with immediate effect," it said in the statement on Wednesday.
Impact on Russian Chess Participation
Individual vs. Team Participation
Russian individuals retain the right to participate in FIDE tournaments but Russian teams will not be allowed to compete in team events, it said.
(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
