Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin claims to have "no regrets" despite being handed a six-month ban for supporting Vladimir Putin.
The 32-year old was censured by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) following comments made on social media backing Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
Karjakin - who challenged Magnus Carlsen in 2016 - was found guilty of a breach of article 2.2.10 of the FIDE Code of Ethics. That article refers to damaging the reputation of chess and the FIDE.
"The statements by Sergey Karjakin on the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine has led to a considerable number of reactions on social media and elsewhere, to a large extent negative towards the opinions expressed by Sergey Karjakin," read a FIDE statement.
It added, "The likelihood that these statements will damage the reputation of Sergey Karjakin personally is also considerable."
However, there was zero contrition from Karjakin.
Born in Crimea, and having represented Ukraine up until 2009, he wrote on Telegram, "An expected, but no less shameful decision by FIDE.
"All sports selections have been trampled, the basic principle that sport is out of politics has been trampled."
Karjakin is allowed to lodge an appeal within 21 days of the FIDE decision, but as things stand he will be out of June's Candidates Tournament.
"I made the hardest selection through the World Cup in the Candidates Tournament," he said, "Winning that would have put me in a match for the world championship. Alas, FIDE embarrassed themselves, not me.
"And most importantly, first of all I am a patriot of my country and only second of all I am an athlete.
"If I thought back to the situation when I supported the president of Russia, the people and the army I would have done the same thing! I don't regret anything."
Karjakin's fellow Russian - Sergei Shipov - avoided a similar ban for backing Putin's invasion, as "Shipov is considerably less known and has, therefore, a less powerful platform. The statements made by Sergei Shipov are also of a slightly different and less provocative character than the ones made by Karjakin."
