Russia’s Ministry of Sports has suspended the Russian field hockey federation (FHTR) for up to six months under section 5.1 of Article 14 of Russia’s 2007 law ‘On physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation’ (available, in Russian, here). The 14 August order was published on the FHTR’s internet site. It is understood that the decision to suspend the FHTR was taken after its President, Nikolai Aleksandrov (Николай Александров – pictured above), was charged with economic crimes. 

Andrei Kanakin (Андрей Кананин), an assistant to State Duma deputy Mikhail Bougera (Михаила Бугеры), was appointed as President during a February extraordinary election. Although Kanakin is recognised as President by the international hockey federation (FIH), the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) told TASS that it didn’t recognise the election and Aleksandrov remained President of the FHTR, despite the pending charges against him.