Valentin Balakhnichev, a Russian engineer and athletics coach, died on February 2, 2026.
Born on April 23, 1949, in Lutsk, Soviet Union, he was a former athlete for the Soviet Union and later became president of the All-Russia Athletic Federation in 1991. He took third place in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1973 national championships and represented his country at the 1973 European Indoor Championships.
After graduating from Moscow Power Engineering University, he retired from active competition in 1976 and began coaching. Balakhnichev also served on the Council for Physical Culture and Sport under the President of the Russian Federation and on the Executive Committee of the Russian Olympic Committee. He was later banned for life by the IAAF after investigations into corruption involving performance enhancing drug testing.
Valentin Vasilyevich Balakhnichev (Russian: Валентин Васильевич Балахничёв; 23 April 1949 – 2 February 2026) was a Russian engineer and athletics coach and a president of the All-Russia Athletic Federation. After investigations into corruption involving performance enhancing drug testing, Balakhnichev was banned for life by the IAAF.