LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Judo’s world governing body has defended one of its officials after he was targeted by U.S. sanctions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Arkady Rotenberg, a childhood friend and former judo sparring partner of Vladimir Putin, is development manager and an executive committee member of the International Judo Federation.
The Russian billionaire was one of 20 people from Putin’s inner circle hit by economic sanctions imposed last week by President Barack Obama following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
IJF President Marius Vizer says in a statement to The Associated Press that Rotenberg “honors us and remains rooted in our community.”
Vizer says Rotenberg will continue to carry out his role even though “his freedom of movement might be affected by these arbitrary measures and his activity might be more difficult in these conditions.”