The international governing body for chess has suspended former world champion Vladimir Kramnik for at least one year. The suspension comes after Kramnik made unproven allegations of cheating against fellow players, notably Daniel Naroditsky, who died last year at the age of 29.
Kramnik had accused Naroditsky of cheating last year and continued to voice his suspicions on social media. Naroditsky, an American grandmaster known for his contributions to the game's online presence through educational videos and livestreams, denied these allegations.
In an email to The Associated Press, Kramnik stated his intention to appeal the suspension, asserting his confidence that the verdict would be overturned. "I am absolutely confident that this unlawful verdict will ultimately be overturned, and I intend to pursue all necessary instances to the very end in order to restore justice and, in particular, my reputation," Kramnik said in a social media post.
The chess federation cited Kramnik's public accusations as a violation of its rules against cyber bullying, as they were made without "adequate evidentiary support." While the federation acknowledged combating cheating as a priority, it emphasized that allegations must be processed through its established procedures and substantiated with appropriate evidence.
Federation representatives noted in their decision that Kramnik "exposed identifiable players to unjustified reputational harm and undermined the safeguards established by the disciplinary framework."
Naroditsky was found deceased in his North Carolina home in October. A toxicology report indicated his death was caused by an abnormal heartbeat resulting from an accidental overdose. Prior to his death, Naroditsky had expressed that Kramnik's accusations were impacting him. "Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it," Naroditsky stated in his final livestream before his passing.
Kramnik referred to Naroditsky's death as a tragedy and countered claims that linked him to the death without factual basis, calling such suggestions a "cynical campaign."