Nearly 3,000 fencing athletes and coaches worldwide delivered a formal petition Tuesday to Olympic leadership demanding an independent investigation into what they describe as widespread corruption and mismanagement within the sport’s governing body.
The petition, addressed to IOC President Kirsty Coventry and International Fencing Federation officials, claims the sport has become unstable due to leadership conflicts, lack of transparency, and questionable decision-making at the highest levels.
Much of the controversy stems from the recent return of former federation chief Alisher Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek billionaire who faces international sanctions. Athletes also cite concerns about unclear rule modifications, competition cancellations, and weakened screening procedures for neutral competitors.
“As athletes, we care deeply about the future of our sport,” the petition states. “The governance failures and corruption within International Fencing Federation are threatening the credibility and stability of the sport and must be formally addressed.”
The federation’s current interim leader, Abdelmoneim El Husseiny, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the athletes’ demands.
The International Fencing Federation has faced intense criticism since Usmanov regained the presidency in November 2024. The wealthy businessman previously led the organization from 2008 through 2022, when he stepped down after European Union sanctions were imposed following Russia’s military action in Ukraine. Both Britain and the United States later added their own sanctions against him.
In December 2024, Usmanov voluntarily stepped back from his presidential responsibilities, stating he wanted to prevent his sanctions from negatively impacting the federation’s operations.
Despite this move, his re-election sparked strong opposition from Ukraine and other nations, who argued that a sanctioned Russian businessman should not hold leadership roles in international sports organizations.
The athlete petition specifically requests that Olympic officials support an external investigation to help rebuild trust in the federation’s leadership. The timing is significant, as IOC Executive Board members are scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the petition, former interim president Emmanuel Katsiadakis resigned after refusing to sign correspondence to U.S. President Donald Trump requesting the removal of sanctions against the 72-year-old Usmanov. The document indicates Katsiadakis cited this incident as a factor in his decision to step down.
Beyond leadership issues, the athletes express frustration with several operational changes, including the elimination of thorough background screenings for Individual Neutral Athletes, new restrictions preventing athletes, journalists, and national federations from recording competitions, increased costs for equipment technicians, and last-minute cancellations of World Cup tournaments.
The petition outlines specific reforms the athletes want implemented: an independent probe into federation governance problems, increased transparency in competition organization, better communication regarding event changes or cancellations, athlete consultation before implementing new fees, and restoration of complete background checks for neutral competitors.
The athletes conclude their letter by expressing willingness to support reform efforts designed to strengthen fencing’s leadership structure, public trust, and long-term sustainability.
