Photo: KARIM JAAFAR (Getty Images)
Russian grandmaster Sergei Karyakin, one of the world’s top chess players, has been banned by the International Chess Federation for six months after publicly speaking out in support of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Karjakin, who at one point was the youngest player to achieve the Grandmaster title (at just 12), had previously represented Ukraine in international competition before defecting to Russia in 2009. He actively supports the Russian invasion. on social media since the outbreak of hostilities, leading to clashes with fans and his chess comrades.
Screenshot: Twitter
He also distributed Russian propaganda:
Screenshot: Twitter
In light of this, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) recently brought disciplinary action against Karjakin and another Russian player who publicly advocated an invasion, Sergei Shipov. By acquitting Shipov because he is “significantly less well known and therefore has a less powerful platform”, Karjakin was found to have violated FIDE’s code of ethics.
The decision is published on the website of the Federation:
“Sergey Karyakin’s statements about the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine have generated a significant amount of reactions on social media and elsewhere, largely negative in relation to the views expressed by Sergey Karyakin,” paragraph 7.37 of the 10-page document reads. where EDC explains the reasons and legal basis for its decision.
Further: “A necessary condition for establishing guilt is that the testimony has become public. This concept in relation to articles of disrepute in sports does not apply to the world at large, but to the sport in which the defendant plays, such as chess. Information about the behavior of the accused, which is not published in the media, but which can be easily found out by people involved in the chess world or its corresponding part, will be in the public domain and satisfy the element of publicity. . The EDC is satisfied that this condition has been met in this case.”
“The EDC Chamber, based on the foregoing, based on the standard of comfort satisfaction, considers that the statements of Sergey Karjakin, which, by his own choice and presentation, may be related to the game of chess, damage the reputation of the game of chess and / or FIDE. There is also a high probability that these statements will damage the reputation of Sergey Karyakin personally,” he concludes.
In response to the suspension, Karjakin wrote on his Telegram page (translated by The Guardian):
An expected, but no less shameful decision by FIDE. All sports selections have been trampled on, the basic principle that sport is out of politics has been trampled on. Most importantly, I am first and foremost a patriot of my country and only secondarily am I an athlete. If I remembered the situation when I supported the President of Russia, the people and the army, I would do the same! I do not regret anything.
A gentle reminder that from labor to sex to sports washing, sport is all about politics.