USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The United States will vote “no” on all questions of reinstatement for fencers and officials from Russia and Belarus during a vote scheduled for the FIE’s special online Extraordinary Congress on March 10, 2023.

In a written address to the FIE (International Fencing Federation) expected to be read into the record during the Congress, USA Fencing Treasurer Samuel Cheris outlines the reasons behind USA Fencing’s strong opposition. 

“Today is a critical day when the member federations show whether their ethical and moral fibers are stronger than the political expediency of pleasing those who are lobbying for their votes with promises of a quid pro quo,” Cheris says in the address.

Cheris, a 2014 inductee into the FIE Hall of Fame, writes that “I and USA Fencing are firmly against permitting the competitors of any country, some of whom are in or supported by its military establishment that is committing war crimes against civilians of another country, to compete.

“If these athletes wish to compete, let them resign any military ties and financing — renounce their citizenship and disavow their support for the atrocities. 

“If these sound like drastic and extreme measures, they are — but invasion of a sovereign country and wanton killing of its civilians is also drastic and extreme, and extreme transgressions call for extreme responses. 

“Many of these competitors are guilty, directly or indirectly, of supporting actively or passively their aggressor government. Those in Russia who passively watch give tacit approval to the current reprehensible activities.”

On Thursday night, USA Fencing’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to affirm USA Fencing’s stance and express steadfast support for Cheris’ message.

“Tragically, nothing has changed since the FIE or the IOC, and their Paralympic equivalents, first placed sanctions on athletes from Russia and Belarus,” says USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews. “Russia has not ended its unwarranted and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of senseless deaths, an unprecedented refugee crisis and the destruction of Ukraine’s sporting infrastructure.

“As long as this war continues, our stance on the participation of athletes from these countries must not change. Allowing the participation of those from these nations in any form, even under a so-called neutral status while still being funded by and supported by the Russian government is unacceptable. We look forward to a time when we can welcome our Russian colleagues back to the piste in peace, but that time is not today.”

“Further, our stance comes directly from our largest stakeholder: our top athletes who have to compete on the piste. It is on their behalf, and in their name, today we keep our stance against the return of Russia and Belarus.”

In his address, Cheris also rejects the idea that fencers from Russia or Belarus could compete under the flag of the FIE or some other symbol.

“Athletes from Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to compete in the individual or team events under some paper screen of fencing under the FIE flag or some other artifice creating a fiction of neutrality and individual eligibility,” he writes. “Everyone knows they are Russians fencing for Russia and Belorussians fencing for a country that is aiding and abetting Russia’s crimes.” 

On the third question, whether officials from Russia and Belarus should be able to attend FIE events, Cheris leaves no doubt. 

“USA Fencing and I are equally opposed to permitting officials of Russia and Belarus to attend the upcoming competitions with the potential of serving at the Olympic Games in any capacity,” he writes.

The U.S. will vote “no” on each of these questions during the Congress, scheduled for 7 a.m. ET on March 10:

1. Do you agree to allow athletes with an FIE Licence registered by the National Federation of Russia or Belarus and holding the respective passport (or citizenship) to participate in FIE individual competitions from the second half of April 2023, subject to possible future IOC recommendations/decisions, and in compliance with conditions of neutrality and individual eligibility?

2. Do you agree to allow athletes with an FIE Licence registered by the National Federation of Russia or Belarus and holding the respective passport (or citizenship) to participate in FIE team competitions from the second half of April 2023, subject to possible future IOC recommendations/decisions, and in compliance with conditions of neutrality and individual eligibility?

3. Do you agree to allow officials (referees, coaches, trainers, medical staff, technical staff, members of commissions and councils) registered by the National Federation of Russia or Belarus and holding the respective passport (or citizenship) to attend FIE competitions from the second half of April 2023, subject to possible future IOC recommendations/decisions, and in compliance with conditions of neutrality and individual eligibility?