Russian Fencing Federation President Ilgar Mammadov has urged the FIE to strip the Sabre Grand Prix in Seoul of its Olympic qualification points ©Getty Images

The Russian Fencing Federation (FFR) has called for Olympic qualification points to be stripped from the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Sabre Grand Prix in Seoul after claiming that "bureaucratic delays" have led athletes from Russia being denied the chance to compete.

FFR President Ilgar Mammadov has expressed his frustration at the FIE after his fencers failed to be permitted in time to fight in the South Korean capital.

The Sabre Grand Prix, scheduled to be held from tomorrow until Saturday (April 29), was expected to be the first to feature Russian and Belarusian athletes since the FIE approved their return last month.

The event is set to count towards qualification for next year’s Olympics in Paris but with no Russian fencers present in Seoul, Mammadov insisted that should no longer be the case.

"We will not be at the Grand Prix in Seoul due to bureaucratic delays on the part of the International Fencing Federation," Mammadov told Russia’s official state news agency TASS.

"Now we are sending a letter to cancel the qualifying points for this tournament due to our non-participation.

Russian fencers have been denied the chance to compete at the Sabre Grand Prix in Seoul over what FFR President Ilgar Mammadov has described as
Russian fencers have been denied the chance to compete at the Sabre Grand Prix in Seoul over what FFR President Ilgar Mammadov has described as "bureaucratic delays on the part of the International Fencing Federation" ©Getty Images

"We have done everything on time, did as they said.

"We repeatedly warned that you would delay and we would not be able to participate.

"We were told - everything is fine, do not worry, you will have time, but we see the opposite."

Russian and Belarusian fencers were permitted to return to international competition as neutrals following a controversial verdict at last month’s FIE Extraordinary Congress.

Under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conditions for their reintroduction, athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus must not be in support of the war in Ukraine or be affiliated to the military or national security agencies.

Mammadov revealed last month that he was ordered by the FIE to send a list of between 110 and 120 athletes, coaches and referees with club and agency affiliations in order to comply with the IOC’s recommendations.

The Ukrainian Fencing Federation is looking to take legal action against the FIE over the decision to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes ©Getty Images
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation is looking to take legal action against the FIE over the decision to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes ©Getty Images

The decision by the FIE to readmit Russians and Belarusians has sparked a backlash with Fencing World Cups cancelled by organisers in Poland, Germany and France as a result of the move.

All three were part of the Paris 2024 qualification process.

The FIE is also facing legal challenges from the Ukrainian Fencing Federation (UFF) over the reintroduction of fencers from Russia and Belarus.

The UFF lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on March 30 and has now filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Lausanne in Switzerland.

"On April 5, 2023, the Ukrainian Fencing Federation filed an application with the District Court of Lausanne to take precautionary measures in the form of suspension of the implementation of the decision of the Extraordinary Congress of the International Fencing Federation of March 10, 2023 on the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials of the fencing federations of these countries to individual and team competitions," a statement from the UFF read.

"The Ukrainian Fencing Federation asks the court to restrict any actions of the FIE and its bodies aimed at implementing the decision of the Extraordinary FIE Congress."

insidethegames has contacted the FIE for comment.