Russia names new Olympic chief in wake of doping scandals
MOSCOW — Fencing champion Stanislav Pozdnyakov was elected president of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday after its previous leader stepped down following years of doping scandals.
Pozdyakov, who won three Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000, previously managed the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” delegation at February’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang after Russia’s team was formally banned for doping.
Pozdnyakov has said he wants to make Russia more influential in sports politics and leave the era of doping sanctions behind.
He beat the only other candidate, former swimmer and International Olympic Committee member Alexander Popov, by 214 votes to 56.