Earlier today we published a story on the relationship between World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon (SLT), which was co-founded by Russian billionaire Leonid Boguslavsky. SLT has released a statement on Boguslavky.
You can read the full statement here and we have also included it below.
“Seeing what is happening in Ukraine I cannot remain silent,” Boguslavsky said in his own statement, which was reproduced by SLT. “I feel deeply about this catastrophic and unjustified war … I stand for peace, call for an immediate halt to the war in Ukraine and hope that we can begin rebuilding a safe, peaceful and interconnected world as soon as possible.”
According to SLT, Boguslavsky has dual Russian and Canadian citizenship. His Forbes profile lists his citizenship as Russian and his residence as Moscow. (SLT says that the Forbes information is incorrect and that Boguslavsky lives in Italy.) Boguslavsky “moved from Russia to Canada as a young man to work as a University Professor and it was from here that he started an investment career that has turned into a global portfolio of successful businesses with offices in New York, London, Bangalore and Singapore.”
“To be clear,” the statement continues, “neither Leonid or any of his businesses have been subject to sanctions anywhere in the world. Leonid has no political ties to Russia and is a self-made man.”
The statement also outlines Boguslavsky’s triathlon success, including qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii multiple times. (Based on a search of results, it doesn’t appear that he’s competed on the Big Island, but finished second in his age group at Ironman Chattanooga in 2014.)
Here’s the full statement from SLT:
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, we at Super League Triathlon have been asked many questions because one of our Co-Founders, Leonid Boguslavsky, has dual Russian and Canadian citizenship. Now is the time to set the record straight.
Leonid is one of four shareholders in Super League Triathlon’s holding company, and as a Co-Founder he has been a driving force behind not only our development but also that of the sport which he loves.
Leonid has also issued his own statement today, which we reproduce here:
“Seeing what is happening in Ukraine I cannot remain silent. I feel deeply about this
catastrophic and unjustified war.
“I believe that invention and entrepreneurship should be used to build a new, better world one with more joy and less suffering. That is why I have devoted more than 20 years of my life to supporting innovation globally.
“I stand for peace, call for an immediate halt to the war in Ukraine and hope that we can begin rebuilding a safe, peaceful and interconnected world as soon as possible.”
As for Leonid’s background, he moved from Russia to Canada as a young man to work as a University Professor, and it was from here that he started an investment career that has turned into a global portfolio of successful businesses with offices in New York. London. Bangalore and Singapore.
To be clear, neither Leonid nor any of his businesses have been subject to sanctions
anywhere in the world. Leonid has no political ties to Russia and is a self-made man. The current discussions in triathlon media on his position are purely because he holds dual Russian and Canadian citizenship and is a successful individual.
Leonid is a triathlon man through and through. He has managed to qualify for Kona multiple times, and persevered despite now racing in pain after twice undergoing a full hip replacement.
His involvement with Super Leaque Triathlon is because he believes in triathlon and raising its popularity around the world, with the professionals at the heart of it and the heroes of it all.
At Super League Triathlon we have never sought to hide our affiliation with Leonid. To the contrary, we are proud he is part of our business.
Both Leonid and Super League Triathlon are committed to transparency about our business relationship, and we look forward to continuing our mission of growing triathlon and inspiring people around the world.
We also stand fully behind World Triathlon and its rulings.
