Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin, an Avid Judoka, Has Title Stripped by Judo Federation

A long-time Kremlin-supporting oligarch and friend of Putins was also removed from their position

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

The International Judo Federation has removed the titles and jobs Vladimir Putin and a long-time Kremlin-supporting oligarch held at the organization.

“The International Judo Federation announces that Mr. Vladimir Putin and Mr. Arkady Rotenberg have been removed from all positions held in the International Judo Federation,” the Budapest-based governing body said in a statement late Sunday.

Putin’s honorary presidency of the IJF was suspended last week with the organization citing “the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine.”

The Russian president is an avid judoka and attended the sport at the 2012 London Olympics.

Rotenberg is a long-time friend of Putin from their home city of St. Petersburg and was a member of the IJF executive committee as “development manager.”

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Netflix, UPS, TikTok, and Price Waterhouse Cooper have joined the long list of companies refusing to do business in Russia over their invasion of Ukraine.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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