The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced on Tuesday that it has filed a formal complaint against former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik. The complaint cites allegations of harassment and "the insulting of an individual's dignity."
Basis of the Complaint
FIDE's action follows Kramnik's unproven allegations of cheating against multiple fellow players. These accusations included Daniel Naroditsky, an American grandmaster who passed away last month at the age of 29. Naroditsky's cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Kramnik had accused Naroditsky of cheating last year and continued to disseminate these suspicions via social media. Naroditsky, who contributed to online chess through educational YouTube videos and livestreams, consistently denied these allegations. In his final livestream, Naroditsky indicated that Kramnik's allegations had negatively affected him.
Other chess grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, have publicly commented on Kramnik's conduct, describing it as harassment directed at Naroditsky.
FIDE's Investigation and Kramnik's Response
The complaint, submitted to the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, outlines a "pattern of conduct over roughly two years" related to potential harassment. It incorporates testimony from Czech grandmaster David Navara, who was also accused of cheating by Kramnik, and individuals reportedly close to Daniel Naroditsky.
FIDE's anti-cheating regulations permit the sanctioning of players who make unfounded accusations based on emotional responses or insufficient data. The federation also requires substantial evidence to initiate a cheating investigation. No documented reports exist of FIDE having investigated Naroditsky for cheating. Prior to this formal submission, FIDE had referred Kramnik's statements, made both before and after Naroditsky's death, to its ethics commission. Kramnik has previously described the federation's investigation as "insulting and unfair."