MOSCOW, August 2 (R-Sport) - Eastern Europe’s VTB United League gained extensive influence over the Russian Basketball Federation Friday when one of the league’s officials was elected federation president.
Yulia Anikeeva, the deputy CEO of the nine-country competition, had been serving as acting president of the federation since previous chief Andrei Krasnenkov was forced to resign in June.
One of the first items on her agenda is to resolve a long-held dispute with the VTB League, which wants the federation to give it the rights to name the Russian national champion.
That would allow the VTB League to provide Euroleague qualification for the first time and herald the end of the ailing Russian domestic championship.
Anikeeva is the first female head in the federation's 22-year history. The electorate comprises delegates of the federation’s regional divisions.
Anikeeva received 97 votes, compared to 63 for former WNBA champion Svetlana Abrosimova and just two for regional basketball official Sergei Ptashny.
Later Friday, a new coach will be elected by the federation. The candidates are Vasily Karasev and Sergei Bazarevich, both of whom coach Russian clubs.
