He succeeds Alexander Mikhailov, who had been re-elected for a fourth term earlier this year but decided in October to step down.

Mikhailov, who had led the FFR since 2009, supported the candidacy of Mammadov, head coach of Russia’s team.

The 56-year-old Mammadov, who was born in Baku in Azerbaijan, won an Olympic gold medal representing the Soviet Union in the team foil event at Seoul 1988.

He was then a member of Russia’s team that won the gold medal at Atlanta 1996.

Mammadov, who in 2013 was inducted into the International Fencing Federation’s Hall of Fame, also a gold medal in the team foil at the 1989 World Championships in Denver and a silver at The Hague in 1995.

After retiring from competition Mammadov became a fencing master and referee.

In 2008 he became the Russian representative to the Refereeing Commission of the International Fencing Federation.

Mammadov was appointed director of fencing for the FFR after Vladislav Pavlovich's resignation following disappointing Olympic results at London 2012.

At Rio 2016, the Russians won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals to finish top of the medals table.

At the re-arranged Olympic Games in Tokyo earlier this year, Russia – competing under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee - won three gold, four silver and one bronze to again finish top of the medals table.

Oleg Lavrichev, chairman of the City Council of Nizhny Novgorod, head of the Fencing Federation of the Nizhny Novgorod region since 2008, was elected as the first vice-president of the FFR.

Igor Kucherenko was appointed the executive director of the FFR.