Russian head of European Shooting Federation suspended for three years

The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) has announced the suspension of Alexander Ratner, President of the European Confederation (ESC) and member of the ISSF Council and Executive Committee, for three years. The decision was made by the independent ISSF Integrity Unit (ISSF Integrity Unit).

Ratner was accused of irregularities during the election of the head of the ESC in 2025, where he was ahead of Finn Anna-Carolina Nissinen.

In particular, the Integrity Unit found Ratner guilty of undue influence on the electoral process, discriminatory statements on the basis of gender during the election period, as well as concealing records of the electoral process during the subsequent investigation.

Ratner was also fined €30,000. It can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Nissinen claimed vote manipulation after the election, and that her campaign was "completely blocked" and the candidates faced "intimidation, harassment and discriminatory treatment," wrote Insidethegames.

However, in January 2026, the ESC reported that a court in Germany after Ratner’s lawsuit found the allegations false and forbade Nissinen to distribute them, a decision that was confirmed by a court in August of this year. In 2024, the head of the ISSF, Luciano Rossi, as well as the presidents of the Italian and Finnish federations, already received court decisions in cases related to their statements against Ratner.

The editors of RBC sent inquiries to the European Shooting Sports Confederation (ESC) and to Alexander Ratner.

Ratner headed the ESC in 2021. He was previously a member of the Executive Committee of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Sports shooting competitions (bullet and stand) are included in the program of the Summer Olympics.