Valery Rukhledev

Valery Nikititch Rukhledev (born 18 January 1948) is a Russian sports activist. He is also a 6 time gold medalist in wrestling for the Soviet Union at the Deaflympics from 1969 to 1977. He served as the president of the Comite International des Sports des Sourds (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), in English) from 2013 to 2018.[1][2] He retired from the position as President of ICSD on 31 July 2018 after being charged on embezzlement charges in a corruption scandal, in which he was accused of embezzling $803,800 from the All-Russian Society of the Deaf.[3] He was later replaced by Australian Rebecca Adam as ICSD President on 1 August 2018 which created further controversy in the Deaf sports world.[4][5]

Valery Rukhledev
9th President of Comite International des Sports des Sourds
In office 13 July 2013  – 31 July 2018
Personal details
Born	(1948-01-18) 18 January 1948 Rybinsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia

Valery Rukhledev

Medal record
Representing Soviet Union
Deaflympics – men's wrestling
	1969 Belgrade	freestyle-middleweight
	1969 Belgrade	Greco-Roman – middleweight
	1973 Malmo	freestyle-light heavyweight
	1973 Malmo	Greco-Roman – light heavyweight
	1977 Bucharest	freestyle- heavyweight
	1977 Bucharest	Greco-Roman – heavyweight

Biography

Born on 18 January 1948 in Krasnoyorsk Krai, Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, Rukhledev studied at deaf schools in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast and in Odessa, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Sports career

Rukhledev was a 6-time champion in men's wrestling at the Deaflympics from 1969 to 1977.[6] He represented the Soviet Union in 1969, 1973, and in 1977. He was voted as one of the best deaf athletes across the world of the 20th century.

In addition to wrestling, he specialized in other martial arts such as Judo and Sambo. Rukhledev was the Soviet national champion at the 1971 Sambo Championship.

Administration

In 1993, he founded the Sports Union for the Deaf in Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and served as the first President of the Federation.

He is currently a member of the Russian Presidential Council on People with Disabilities, headed by Vladimir Putin.

In 2013, he was elected as the 9th President of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).[7][8] Rukhledev also ran for the Presidential post in 2005 and 2009.[9]

• President of All-Russian Society of the Deaf (2003–2018)[10]
• Chairman of the Russian Committee of Deaf Sports (2010–2013)
• Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (2007–2011)
• President of the ICSD (2013–2018)[11]

Allegations

In May 2018, he was reprimanded and arrested for involving in forgery charges regarding the embezzlement of $803, 800 from the All-Russian Society of the Deaf while he was serving as the post of the society as well as the post of ICSD President.[12] He was kept in house arrest for more than 2 months until 23 July 2018.[13] While he was under house arrest, Kang Chen; one of the key members of ICSD was appointed as the acting President of International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.[14] On 31 July 2018, he announced his resignation as ICSD President following the scandal and was replaced by Rebecca Adam on 1 August 2018 after being unanimously selected for the position until 2021 during the ICSD committee meeting.[15] However this incident created further controversy as top Deaf sports movements criticised the appointment of Rebecca Adam without proper consent and approval.[5] The arrest of former President, Rukhledev cautioned concerns over Italy in hosting the 2019 Winter Deaflympics but was later confirmed that the games would proceed despite the change in administration.[16]

Awards and honours

• One of the top 10 ICSD/ Deaflympics athlete of the Century Recipients
• Edward Miner Gallaudet Award at the Gallaudet University (2016)
• Doctorate in Philosophy from Moscow University

References

1. "ICSD | Deaflympics". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
2. "Deaflympics 2017 Samsun". deaflympics2017.org (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 November 2017.
3. "President of All-Russian Society of the Deaf arrested for embezzlement". en.crimerussia.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
4. "Deaf sports crisis deepens after almost 50 countries oppose appointment of new ICSD President". insidethegames.biz. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
5. "ICSD (Deaflympics) Board Presidential Coup "Unacceptable" AccordingTo ICSD Members". aroundtherings.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
6. "Valery Rukhledev". deaflympics.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
7. "Deaf News: Russia's Valery Rukhledev becomes new President of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf". The Limping Chicken. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
8. "Russian elected new President of International Committee of Sports for the Deaf after defeating Briton in election". 25 July 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
9. "ICSD | Deaflympics". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
10. "CRPD Committee Elections 2016: Deaf Sign Language user Valery Rukhledev elected – WFD". WFD. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
11. "News | Deaflympics". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
12. "Press Release: Dr. Valery Rukhledev kept under house arrest for alleged corruption money laundering". ciss.org. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
13. "Deaflympics boss placed under house arrest as part of embezzlement investigation". insidethegames.biz. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
14. "Chen appointed acting Deaflympics boss as Rukhledev faces embezzlement charges". insidethegames.biz. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
15. "Press Release: ICSD Announcement". ciss.org. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
16. "Italy set to host delayed Winter Deaflympics as concerns remain over President arrested in Russia". insidethegames.biz. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.