FIDE has banned Vladimir Kramnik for a year due to unproven allegations of cheating

Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik has been suspended by FIDE for at least one year after the global chess governing body ruled that he had repeatedly publicly made unsubstantiated allegations of cheating against other players, including US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

The decision represents one of the strongest disciplinary measures FIDE has taken against a player of Kramnikov’s stature. The Russian, who won the world title in 2000 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in chess history, has vowed to appeal the suspension.

“I am absolutely sure that this illegal verdict will eventually be overturned and I intend to take all the necessary cases to the very end to restore justice and especially my reputation,” Kramník said in a statement posted on social media.

According to FIDE, Kramnik repeatedly accused players of cheating without providing sufficient evidence, violating the federation’s rules against cyberbullying and defamation.

While FIDE acknowledges that combating cheating remains a priority for the sport, it says allegations must be supported by credible evidence and must be conducted through established disciplinary channels rather than through public accusations.

“He exposed identifiable players to unjustified reputational damage and undermined the safeguards established by the disciplinary framework,” the federation said in its decision.

Among those Kramnik accused was American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, one of the most popular figures in online chess through his YouTube educational videos and live streams. Naroditsky consistently denied the allegations.

Naroditsky died last October at age 29 after suffering an abnormal heartbeat caused by an accidental overdose, according to a toxicology report.

Before his death, Naroditsky spoke about the emotional impact of the allegations.

“Ever since the stuff with Kramnik, I feel like when I start doing well, people assume the worst intentions. The problem is just the lingering effect,” he said during his final live broadcast.

Kramnik rejected suggestions linking his accusations to Naroditsky’s death, calling the grandmaster’s passing a tragedy and saying there had been a “cynical campaign” accusing him without any factual basis.

The suspension comes as FIDE continues to strengthen its anti-cheating framework, balancing efforts to protect the integrity of the competition with safeguards against unfounded public accusations that can damage players’ reputations.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

04 Jul 2026 15:52 IST