United States eSports Federation President Vlad Marinescu has been co-opted to the IeSF ©IeSF

United States eSports Federation (USeF) President Vlad Marinescu has become a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF) Board, an appointment the governing body claim will help its bid for Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) recognition.

Marinescu, the former director general of SportAccord, later rebranded as GAISF, has been co-opted for the role by the IeSF.

"IeSF believes that its true assets are its member federations and those dedicated individuals that serve them," the organisation said in a statement.

"Vlad therefore brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the IESF’s Board."

The IeSF claim the decision to co-opt the experienced official will aid with its ongoing push to assert itself as the true International Federation for esport.

It is still hopeful of gaining recognition from umbrella body the GAISF, which held a dedicated Esports Forum in partnership with the IOC last year.

The popularity of esport continues to grow but its exact future involvement in the Olympic Movement remains unclear - something that the IeSF hopes to clarify by positioning itself as the main international governing body ©Getty Images
The popularity of esport continues to grow but its exact future involvement in the Olympic Movement remains unclear - something that the IeSF hopes to clarify by positioning itself as the main international governing body ©Getty Images

GAISF had been behind the attempt to integrate esport into the Olympic Movement but the momentum has slowed since the death of its President Patrick Baumann in October.

The IeSF was founded in 2008 by representatives from Denmark, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Vietnam and Taiwan.

But, in 2016, a rival group - the Swiss-based World Esports Association - was formed. 

The USeF believes, however, that the IeSF offers more opportunity of developing esports in America.

Marinescu left SportAccord, as it was then known, in July 2015 following a restructure of the body after Marius Vizer stepped down following his controversial speech earlier in the year when he had criticised the IOC and its President Thomas Bach.

He was previously the director of the International Judo Federation, where he worked closely with Vizer.