Shevchenko Given 75-Day Ban Amid Cheating Investigation, Misses European Club Cup

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has handed GM Kirill Shevchenko a temporary 75-day suspension following last weekend's expulsion from the Spanish Team Chess Championship, where two locked phones were found in a bathroom. 

The suspension is a result of last weekend's scandal where the grandmaster was expelled from the prestigious team event after the arbiters investigated concerns from GM Francisco Vallejo about Shevchenko's frequent absences from the board. Shevchenko has denied any wrongdoings. He has not responded to Chess.com's request for comment.

FIDE's Fair Play Commission has now confirmed in a statement that a preliminary investigation has begun and that the 22-year-old is suspended for 75 days until January 1. 

Based on the preliminary investigation by FPL, that established a prima facie case against GM Kirill Shevchenko, EDC has suspended GM Shevchenko for a period of 75 days from today, i.e. until 1 January 2025, from any official activities as a player. 

This means the grandmaster misses the European Chess Club Cup, that began in Serbia on Sunday. Shevchenko was scheduled to play for the top seeded SuperChess from Romania, but the team captain GM Ivan Sokolov is now listed in his place as a player.

He'll also miss the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York, ending a day before the suspension runs out.

FIDE noted that the suspension "would not indicate that GM Shevchenko is guilty of a cheating offense" and that he is to be investigated "on the assumption of innocence." 

The suspension request, submitted by FIDE Fair Play Commission Chair Yuri Garrett to Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) Chair Yolander Persaud, is in line with FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Code. According to the Code, a player can be temporarily banned during an investigation if a strong initial case is made, and such an action can be taken urgently without a formal hearing.

Persaud confirmed to Chess.com that they have opened a case, but could not make further comments on the ongoing case.

Suspicions were initially raised after Shevchenko was reported to be spending an unusual amount of time away from the board, making frequent visits to the bathroom. When confronted by the arbiter, the grandmaster said he was unwell and needed to visit the bathroom. Despite a warning from the arbiter that the rules stated he had to ask for permission to leave the playing area, the unannounced bathroom visits continued.

The chief arbiter stated in his report that when he sent others to investigate, it was found Shevchenko visited a cubicle in which they later found a phone with a note reading, “Don’t touch! This phone has been left so the owner can answer it at night!” That cubicle was then locked, and Shevchenko was later said to have been observed going to the bathroom and waiting for that particular cubicle when other options were available.  

The news has sent shockwaves through the chess world as the rising star is the most high-profile player ever to be under a formal investigation for suspected cheating. His achievements include winning the 2021 European Team Championship with Ukraine, as well as a major blitz tournament ahead of GMs Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi. 

Since Chess.com first reported on the incident, the Romanian Chess Federation has published a statement in support of Shevchenko, while expressing their commitment to ensure fair play.

“We have proven over the years that we take all anti-cheating rules very seriously and will continue to do so. However, serious allegations must be backed up by solid evidence. So far, only circumstantial evidence has been made public,” the statement said.