Chess Player Faces Lifetime Ban for Mercury Poisoning

Russian chess player Amina Abakarova has been suspended and is under investigation after allegedly attempting to poison her rival, Umayganat Osmanova, with mercury during the Dagestan Chess Championship. Surveillance footage captured Abakarova smearing a substance on Osmanova's chessboard, leading to Osmanova experiencing severe nausea and dizziness. The incident occurred on August 2, 2024, at the Chess House in Makhachkala, Dagestan. Dagestan’s sports minister, Sazhid Sazhidov, confirmed the substance was mercury and expressed his perplexity over the motives behind Abakarova's actions. Abakarova now faces potential criminal charges and a lifetime ban from the sport.