The International Fencing Federation admits Russians and Belarusians

Through a telematic process, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) held an extraordinary Congress last Friday in which three points were discussed on the return or not of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions.

The Congress was scheduled from 2022 and was convened because in the opinion of the FIE Executive Committee, "there is a special need for transparency".

The result was overwhelming in favor of the Russian thesis:

, so, if nothing stands in the way, athletes of both nationalities will be able to participate in the first grand prix on the international calendar: the Women's Foil World Cup, at celebrate in the Polish city of Poznan on April 21.

The decision has already caused a tidal wave within the FIE, currently chaired by the Greek

, a man of consensus and widely respected, who succeeded the previous president, the Russian magnate

, who had to abruptly leave the leadership of the organization as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Katsiadakis has announced an official statement for this Monday, but it will be difficult to silence the voices against the agreement reached.

Despite the fact that some sports, such as tennis, already admit the presence of Russians, the fact that one of the founding sports of Olympism is embarking on this path causes alarm in many countries, as well as in other disciplines.

The voting process, although telematic, was impeccable.

A notary and a lawyer, along with FIE staff in Lausanne, validated the process and each vote.

But this irreproachable management, as well as the overwhelming result, hides a huge paradox.

or two.

The first and most obvious is that

.

The conclusion arouses a loud laugh from a senior member of the Russian fencing federation, who finds no arguments against it and points out: "It is the first step."

And what will be the second, then, the return of Usmanov to the presidency of the FIE?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is ambiguous: "Maybe."

The other paradox is at the same time a sharp criticism by the so-called "Western bloc", because if one observes which countries voted in favor of the return of the Russian fencers to the tracks, it is easy to realize that the vast majority - with little although notable exceptions such as China or Venezuela- fencing is the least of their worries: Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guyana... As José Luis Abajo, Pirri, president of the Royal

Federation

assures of Fencing (RFEE), "the vote is secret, but the result was already known. Almost all of Europe is in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, but the FIE is highly influenced by the Russians".

He doesn't want to add more.

He does not want to put up that open secret that has been circulating for many years,

A senior official from a European federation mentions a case that perhaps clearly explains the situation facing world fencing.

According to him, in a congress not too far away they believed they already had enough votes for their country's candidacy to triumph.

To his surprise, they were defeated at the last moment by a narrow margin.

The candidacy supported by Russia won.

They asked for explanations from some of the delegates with whom they had reached a previous agreement and these, embarrassed, confessed that they

.

And in a bizarre jump - worthy of the "frozen balls" in the Champions League draws that

- They added that they were forced to take a photo of the only ballot paper they had, marked with the option that was required of them.

Only with that graphic proof, which they obtained with their private mobile, they were given the promised money.

The confidential source of the Russian Federation strongly denies this point.

"We have never paid or required anyone to vote for us."

It may be true, but the truth is that they do not need it because whoever executes these maneuvers has -this time yes- name and surname.

His name is

and he is a member of the FIE Executive Committee, as well as president of the Pan American Fencing Confederation, because, despite his markedly Slavic features, he represents Mexico.

Unanimously, he is considered the right hand of Alisher Usmanov in international fencing and he is one of those characters whose name is spoken between whispers.

However, apart from these supposed operations that, at least, would touch the limits of ethics and question the essence of the democratic system, a fact has crystallized that is shared by sources on both sides: and that is that the war in Ukraine worries him

- and less and less - to many countries in Asia - where only South Korea and Japan maintained the blockade -, Africa and Latin America.

On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that the entry of Alisher Usmanov as head of the FIE meant a large increase in the budget of a minority sport that did not attract large advertising firms.

Russia's third fortune -valued at some 14.4 billion dollars, according to Forbes-, owner of large communication, steel and energy companies, as well as owner of 30% of Arsenal FC, did not mind giving a boost to what a day was his great hobby, from which fencing as a whole benefited.

A benefit that suddenly disappeared with the war, leading the FIE to an economic situation that at the moment seems unsustainable.

FIE sources - all refuse to give their names, because "every word today is examined with a magnifying glass" - assume that "no one knows what is going to happen", that everything possible is being done to guarantee the "survival" of this sport. and that, ultimately, the situation is "very serious".

The announcement of the return of the Russian and Belarusian athletes may not come at the best time.

The same sources expect, however, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), chaired, by the way, by the German fencer

, make a firm and unappealable decision on this matter before the already indicated April 21.

The Russian federation, for its part, requests amnesty only for individual competitions.

The team events are already written off, because they know that right now the presence of a Russian squad in any sport is unfeasible.

Of course, the same confidential source assures that no one will force their athletes to sign a manifesto against the war in order to compete.

"The FIE will never do that," she affirms emphatically.

However, even if the presence of Russian athletes were admitted, the problems would remain enormous.

For example, as Abajo points out, there are countries like Poland -or Spain- that at the moment do not issue visas for Russian and Belarusian citizens.

There are even those who suggested relocating the most accessible competitions for Russian fencers so that they could not attend.

For his part, the president of the RFEE awaits instructions from the Higher Sports Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because this situation could negatively affect the international events held in Spain.

What will happen if a Russian and a Ukrainian meet in a "poule" or a direct elimination?

because it was their turn against the team of their now mortal enemy.

And his example was followed by many.

The risk of each competition becoming an ungovernable scandal is palpable.

Despite the tragedy, there is sometimes a glimpse of hope, a glimmer of humanity.

The Russian source assures that, shortly after the start of the war, he offered to host the family of Ukrainian saber saber Vadym Gutzeit,

gold medalist in Barcelona 92, representing the Soviet Union, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

The family rejected the offer and the saberman's wife traveled by car to Spain, where she stayed for around three months.

Vadym Gutzeit is, and already was then, the current Minister of Sports of Ukraine.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more