8 November 2026
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) confirms the announcement by the European Shooting Confederation (ESC) that the independent Adjudicatory Panel of the ISSF Integrity Unit has imposed a three-year period of ineligibility and a fine of €30,000 on Alexander Ratner, a member of the ISSF Council and Executive Committee, in connection with the ESC presidential elections held in Yerevan on 24–25 October 2025.
The sanctions follow the Panel’s findings that Mr Ratner breached Articles 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 4.1(c), 4.3, 7.3 and 8.1(b) and (c) of the ISSF Integrity Code. The violations concerned improper influence over the electoral process and gender-based discriminatory statements made during the election period as well as undue concealment of the recordings of the election process during the subsequent investigation.
The Adjudicatory Panel issued its decision on 6 November 2026 (the “Decision”), following an investigation lasting approximately four months conducted by the ISSF Investigatory Body. During the investigation, several witnesses, including Mr Ratner were interviewed. The Investigatory Body subsequently issued its report on 9 July 2026 (the “Report”).
Both Mr Ratner and the ISSF were given the opportunity to submit written observations on the Report and to present their respective positions at an oral hearing held on 14 October 2026, which lasted more than five hours.
The Adjudicatory Panel was composed of Mr Saverio Paolo Spera (Chair), Dr Tanja Haug and Professor Giovanni Zarra. The Decision, which sets out the Panel’s reasoning in 48 pages, will be published on the ISSF website once Mr Ratner has exhausted or waived his right to request the redaction of information he deems confidential.
The Decision is immediately enforceable and may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Any appeal will not suspend the enforcement of the sanctions unless the CAS orders otherwise.
The implications of the Decision for the ongoing ISSF presidential election process, including Mr Ratner's eligibility to stand for election, will be determined by the ISSF Electoral and Nominations Commission (ENC) early next week.
ISSF will not comment further pending the publication of the full version of The Decision unless there is a need to address potential misinformation.