After a brawl at the Asian Rowing Championships in Turkestan, the regional sports authority suspended one of the participants in the conflict - Timur Alikhanov, a coach at the specialised youth Olympic reserve sports school (SDYUSSHOR). The other party involved, Daulet Sultanbekov, a national coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan, fell outside the authority's jurisdiction - regional officials are not entitled to punish him.
CONFLICT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
The Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Turkestan Region has officially confirmed a conflict between two coaches that occurred after the Asian Rowing Championships and reported the suspension of one of those involved from work.
According to the department, on 7 June 2026 a conflict occurred at the international rowing channel in Turkestan between Timur Alikhanov, a coach at the specialised youth Olympic reserve sports school (SDYUSSHOR) for water sports in the Turkestan Region, and Daulet Sultanbekov, the national coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan for rowing sports. The department does not dispute the fact of the incident.
REGARDING ALCOHOL: NO OFFICIAL CONCLUSION
In response to information about the alleged alcohol intoxication of one of the participants in the conflict, the department stated that it does not possess official documents or conclusions from authorised bodies that would confirm or refute these reports. The response emphasises that establishing this circumstance falls within the competence of law enforcement agencies.
ALIKHANOV SUSPENDED, SULTANBEKOV OUTSIDE DEPARTMENT'S JURISDICTION
For the duration of the internal investigation, Timur Alikhanov has been temporarily suspended from performing his official duties — based on an order dated 16 June 2026.
At the same time, it is reported that the department is not entitled to apply disciplinary measures to Daulet Sultanbekov: he is a national coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is not on the staff of the SDYUSSHOR of the Turkestan Region. His employment relations fall outside the jurisdiction of the regional department.
It is noted that a commission has been established at the SDYUSSHOR for water sports in the Turkestan Region to conduct an internal investigation and study the circumstances of the incident. Both participants in the incident have previously filed statements with law enforcement agencies.
Determining the degree of fault of the participants in the conflict and the legal assessment of their actions, as stated in the official response, also fall within the competence of law enforcement agencies.
BACKGROUND
Earlier, the FBRK reported on the incident based on a post by Timur Alikhanov on Instagram: the coach claimed that Sultanbekov, while intoxicated, struck him in the jaw, insulted him and threatened him with dismissal. Both parties contacted the police.
Later, the Republican Public Association "Federation 'Kaiyk'" for rowing sports called for waiting for the results of the pre-trial investigation, and Daulet Sultanbekov himself rejected the accusations of alcohol intoxication and stated that Alikhanov was the instigator of the conflict.