World Chess Federation investigating Russian grandmaster who accused Daniel Naroditsky of cheating

The World Chess Federation said it was investigating claims Vladimir Kramnik made "before and after the tragic death" of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

The World Chess Federation said Wednesday it will investigate whether Russian chess champ Vladimir Kramnik should be disciplined for the disparaging public statements he made "before and after the tragic death" of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the worldwide organization better known by its French acronym, FIDE, made the announcement in a statement to NBC News after many top players in the chess world accused Kramnik of besmirching Naroditsky's reputation by falsely and repeatedly accusing him of cheating during online matches.

Naroditsky was found dead this week at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"The chess community has long respected the achievements of GM Vladimir Kramnik, and his contributions to our sport are undeniable," Dvorkovich said in the statement. "The same high standards that accompany great achievements, however, also confer a responsibility to uphold the principles of fairness and respect and to be ambassadors for the sport."

Dvorkovich, who did not say in the statement what kind of disciplinary action Kramnik could face if the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission concludes he crossed the line, acknowledged that chess has a bullying problem.