Agapitov, 51, is the first Russian or Soviet Union official to lead the continental body in its 52-year history.

Previous leaders were from Poland, twice, France, Britain, Italy and, for two months this year, Turkey.

The Turkish EWF President, Hasan Akkus, "stepped aside" from his duties after being charged with a serious "tampering" doping offence by the International Testing Agency (ITA) last week.

He was accused, after an eight-month investigation into doping cover-ups and other offences over a 10-year period, of corruptly trying to escape a ban for the Turkish Weightlifting Federation (THF), of which he was President, in 2013.

Seventeen Turkish athletes tested positive in a mission carried out by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) in the last two months of 2012, the ITA said.

Akkus is accused of trying to switch results-management responsibilities for those cases from the IWF to his own federation.

The THF was never fined or suspended for the multiple violations, and has been referred by the ITA to a sanctions panel for potential retrospective punishment.

At an EWF Board meeting which approved Agapitov's move from first vice-president to Interim President, members were told that Akkus had stepped aside "in order to clear his name and deal with the charges against him in the ITA report before the relevant legal bodies".

Agapitov could remain in place until the next EWF Congress next year but the Board has decided to review the situation regarding legal proceedings against Akkus after 90 days.

If Akkus' absence is long-term the Board could call an election.

Agapitov, who also sits on the IWF Executive Board, was a focus of discussion yesterday at the IWF Constitutional Congress, because of a doping suspension he served in the 1990s.

A Draft Constitution, which is yet to be approved, forbids anyone standing in IWF elections if they have ever had a doping suspension.

Agapitov and his supporters, of which there are plenty, believes it is unfair to add another punishment for something that happened so long ago.

The rule also goes against legal "rehabilitation" considerations, his backers argue, and overlooks the fact, as Agapitov has pointed out, that he has "cleaned up" Russian weightlifting since becoming National Federation President in 2016.

An attempt to change the rule to "any doping violation in the past 10 years", rather than any offence ever, was not approved but the subject is likely to be raised again when the Congress resumes at a date to be decided.

On his new role, and Akkus' situation, Agapitov said, "It is important that we take the findings of the ITA report seriously but also allow for due process with regards to the allegations.

"I feel a strong sense of responsibility when assuming the role of Interim President of the EWF at a difficult time.

"My goal is to work for unity, continued reform and strengthening of the sport in Europe and the world.

"We must be united in our fight against doping.

"I want to listen to all people and help bring the right ideas from word to action."

The Board also decided to obligate all EWF event hosts to organise anti-doping seminars during the competition - and said it expected all member federations to support the initiative.

"We recognise that this is a minor step but it is one that is required in the context of the existence of an educational need," said an EWF statement.

The seminars will be held at the next European Championships in Poland and Finland.