Alexander Kogan has been appointed Acting President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation ©FFKKR

Olympic gold medallist Alexander Kogan has been appointed as Acting President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR).

Kogan's ascension was approved by the organisation's Executive Committee to temporarily replace the late Alexander Gorshkov.

Gorshkov had led the FFKKR since 2010 before his death at the age of 76 on November 17 last year.

Partnered by his wife Lyudmila Pakhova, the pair won the first-ever Olympic ice dance gold medal at Innsbruck 1976 competing for the Soviet Union.

"In accordance with the charter of the FFKKR, the Executive Committee of the Federation entrusted the execution of the powers of the President of the Federation to the director general Alexander Kogan," read an FFKKR statement, as reported by Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

"This decision was made unanimously at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the FFKKR, held on December 25 in Krasnoyarsk."

Alexander Kogan has taken the FFKKR Presidency on a temporary basis following the death of Alexander Gorshkov, pictured ©Getty Images
Alexander Kogan has taken the FFKKR Presidency on a temporary basis following the death of Alexander Gorshkov, pictured ©Getty Images

Kogan has taken responsibility because the FFKKR's charter states that in the event of a voluntary resignation by the President or a physical impossibility for powers to be exercised, i.e., death, then the power is passed down to the director general.

The FFKKR's athletes have been banned from International Skating Union competitions since March due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It follow the controversy over the positive drugs test involving teenage skater Kamila Valieva, which has put in doubt the Olympic gold medals that Russia won in the team event at Beijing 2022. 

At the ISU Congress in June, the ban was extended but officials from the two countries were still allowed to stand in elections after surviving a vote to exclude them from the event.

Among the problems that Russian Figure Skating Federation Acting President Alexander Kogan has inherited is the controversy surrounding teenager Kamila Valieva after her positive drugs test ©Getty Images
Among the problems that Russian Figure Skating Federation Acting President Alexander Kogan has inherited is the controversy surrounding teenager Kamila Valieva after her positive drugs test ©Getty Images

Kogan insists that a bright future lies ahead for the FFKKR despite the sanctions.

"Uncertainty still haunts us," he said in a New Year message.

"But the FFKKR tried to do everything in its power so that domestic figure skating continued to develop, and our skaters could please us with new achievements.

"And now we have something to be proud of: our sport does not stand still - in addition to traditional ones, new domestic Russian tournaments are appearing, which the entire world figure skating community is already talking about.

"Our coaches are the best in the world, they continue to work, and the performances of our athletes do not go unnoticed, even though the Russians do not participate in international competitions.

"And I want to remind you that new bright tournaments are waiting for us in the new year!"