FIDE Hands Two Year Ban to Garry Kasparov

The Ethics Commission of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has banned world champion Garry Kasparov and former general secretary Ignatius Leong from holding any office or position in FIDE for two years. (Read more in Chess)

"Kasparov and Leong are both banned for a period of two years from holding any office or position within FIDE, including its member federations, continental associations or any other affiliated international organisations, as well as participating in any FIDE meeting as delegate, proxy-holder or other representative of a FIDE member," read the statement published on the official site.

FIDE's Ethics Commission has found Kasparov and Leong guilty of violating the FIDE Moral Code. Ahead of last year's presidential poll, Kasparov, bidding for the office, and then General Secretary Ignatius Leong made a deal in which Kasparov paid Leong $500,000 so that Singapore voted for him. Kasparov lost the contest and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was re-elected as FIDE president.

Leong promised Kasparov that he would get ten plus one votes of Asian chess federation for $500,000 in return.

Kasparov Chess Foundation and Leong's company Asian Chess Academy were also supposed to establish a new organization, Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia, which was supposed to transfer $1 million to Leong's firm in case of Kasparov's victory.