September 25, 2025: The iF3 has announced it has entered into a partnership agreement with Fund of Innovations in Medicine and Sports Geraklion which will allow the Federation to take significant steps forward on its journey toward IOC recognition. The agreement includes the provision of funding for the iF3’s application for SportAccord recognition as well as the iF3 application to become a WADA Signatory. Both SportAccord recognition and WADA Signatory status are requirements of IOC recognition and Olympic Games inclusion.
In addition to funding these important elements of the recognition process, Mr. Sergey Eremin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Functional Fitness Federation of Russia and President of Geraklion, will become a Special Advisor to the iF3. Eremin will work with the iF3 Board to provide insights and feedback on iF3 strategies and projects. An initial objective will be to more clearly define the internal staffing structure of the iF3.
Mr. Eremin commented on the partnership saying: “The agreement we have signed with the International Federation of Functional Fitness is a very important milestone in the development of our beloved sport. In a very difficult international situation, it is very important to maintain friendly relations based on the essence of sport as a peaceful, honest, kind attitude towards competition on sports grounds. We have a common goal – to make the sport of versatile physical training, which is functional fitness, an Olympic discipline. The Fund of Innovations in Medicine and Sports Geraklion will do everything in its power to fulfill its commitments to our common advancement towards this goal. I am sure that the Federation, headed by Gretchen Kittelberger, an excellent athlete and a very reliable person, adheres to the same approaches.”
iF3 President Gretchen Kittelberger expressed her excitement about the partnership saying, “This partnership with the Fund of Innovations in Medicine and Sports Geraklion will allow us to take the work of the iF3 to the next level. Immediately addressing our needs in the areas of antidoping and the SportAccord recognition process will allow us to finally clear several tall hurdles that were standing in the way of our ultimate goal. But this partnership goes beyond this initial step, and we look forward to being able to initiate new and creative projects and events with the assistance and advice of Geraklion and Mr. Eremin, who is very experienced in developing and building up new sports.”
