Overview
- The EDC issued the ruling on July 3, 2026, finding former world champion Vladimir Kramnik responsible for multiple breaches of FIDE’s ethics and disciplinary code.
- The commission said Kramnik engaged in bullying, cyberbullying, psychological abuse, failure to cooperate, and making false or unjustified public accusations against named players.
- FIDE imposed a two-year worldwide ban with the final 12 months suspended on a three-year probation and ordered Kramnik to perform 12 months of unpaid service for the chess community.
- The EDC explicitly did not evaluate the scientific validity of Kramnik’s anti-cheating methodology because he did not fully disclose it and the available evidence was incomplete.
- Kramnik rejected the decision on social media and said he will appeal within the 21-day window, a step that will test how FIDE balances anti-cheating enforcement with rules on confidential, evidence-based procedures and player welfare.