Dhe suspension of Vladimir Putin as Honorary President of the World Judo Federation could be taken as an indication that close colleagues are also distancing themselves from him, at least in the sporting context. No other sport is as closely linked to it as judo. He has practiced this martial art, which is part of the Olympic program, since his youth and holds a black belt.
His former sparring partners, the brothers Arkadi and Boris Rotenberg, are among his closest friends and owe him immense fortunes, which they acquired with the help of government contracts for their construction holding company, for example during the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
The Russian President’s connections to the World Federation (IJF) are particularly close. Arkadi Rotenberg is on the board there, and Romanian-born President Marius Vizer is considered a friend of Putin. The world association is supported by Russian donors, as is the European association EJU, which is led by the Russian Sergej Soloweitschik.
“In the light of the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine,” it said in a short statement, without naming Putin’s role in the events, “the suspension of Mr. Vladimir Putin’s status as honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation was announced.”
As late as Saturday night, the IJF only downplayed the “current international situation, the result of inefficient dialogue at international level” and the Grand Slam in Kazan, which was scheduled to take place from May 20th to 22nd.
In 2016, after the unveiling of Russian state doping, the IJF had stood loyal to Russian sport and – unlike athletics, for example – admitted all of its nominated athletes to the Olympic Games in Rio.
