Chess’s global governing body on Friday handed former world champion Vladimir Kramnik a suspension of at least one year, citing his unsupported cheating accusations against other players, among them Daniel Naroditsky, who died last year at 29.
Kramnik had accused Naroditsky of cheating last year and later continued airing his doubts publicly on social media.
Naroditsky, an American grandmaster and gifted chess talent who became a major figure in the game’s online surge through instructional YouTube content and livestreams, denied the claims.
In an email to The Associated Press, Kramnik said he intends to challenge the suspension.
“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 said Kramnik made public cheating allegations without “adequate evidentiary support,” breaching its rules prohibiting cyber bullying.
While the federation emphasized that fighting cheating remains a key priority, it said such accusations must go through official channels and be backed by proper evidence.
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“He exposed identifiable players to unjustified reputational harm and undermined the safeguards established by the disciplinary framework,” federation representatives said in their decision.
Naroditsky was found dead at his North Carolina home in October.
He was killed by an abnormal heartbeat caused by an accidental overdose, according to a toxicology report.
Naroditsky had said before his death that Kramnik’s allegations had taken a toll on 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 said in his last livestream before his death.
Kramnik called Naroditsky’s death a tragedy.
He said there had been a cynical campaign to link him to Naroditsky’s death without any factual basis.
