Russia is looking to return to the international sports arena and regain global attention, particularly in the sport of judo, a favorite of Vladimir Putin. Marius Vizer, the president of the International Judo Federation, who has led the organization since 2007, is recognized as a key figure in this process.
The Impact of Vizer's Relationships on Judo
Marius Vizer, as a successful entrepreneur, has turned judo into a global commercial product. He has not responded to criticisms of himself as a sports official who has created a powerful network of relationships with Russian elites and global business interests. Vitaly Dubrova, the head coach of the Ukrainian Judo Federation, says, “Vizer clearly has interests and connections in Russia, and Russian ideas are present everywhere.”
The International Judo Federation took steps in 2022 to financially support judo in Ukraine and conducted background checks on Russian and Belarusian athletes in 2023. However, in November 2025, this federation became the first major sports organization to fully allow Russian athletes back into competitions, permitting them to compete under their national flag. This decision was made after the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Concerns and Reactions in Europe
These developments have raised concerns in Brussels. Senior EU foreign policy officials are considering ideas including sanctions on athletes and cutting EU funding for sports federations that allow Russia's return. These documents indicate that sports are gradually becoming a tool for achieving the political goals of Russia and Belarus.
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, the country still exerts influence over international sports federations, including chess, fencing, and boxing. Vizer is attempting to separate sports from politics, and as such, criticisms against him are seen as implicit support for Russia's invasion.
Close ties between Russian elites and judo existed even before the invasion of Ukraine. Under Putin's leadership, who is himself a judoka, this sport has become a social network and a system of loyalty that connects prominent political and business figures in Russian society. Some of Putin's closest allies are old friends from judo circles in St. Petersburg, leading to what some analysts have called a “judo brotherhood” or “judo-ocracy.”
This influence has also expanded globally. Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, childhood friends of Putin, have created construction and infrastructure empires in Russia using large government contracts. For example, the Crimean Bridge, which Ukraine considers an illegal attempt to connect mainland Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula, was built by them.
