26 Section APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY gene, is a strong candidate to explain how the disease modifi er polymorphisms may contribute to a lower risk for obesity among trained individuals (Kilpelainen et al., 2011). <...> It has been shown that adults who are homozygous for the A-allele weigh on average 1.5 to 3 kg more than those homozygous for the T allele. <...> This fi nding has now been replicated in multiple obese cohorts (Fawcett and Barroso, 2010). <...> The aim of the study was to examine possible relationships between T/A polymorphism of FTO with fat accumulation among 101 Kalmykian males (46 wrestlers aged from 14 to 26 years and 52 sedentary controls aged from 17 to 28 years). <...> The program included standard anthropometric measurements (Bunak, 1941). <...> For molecular genetic analysis buccal smears were collected. <...> Genome DNA was extracted with the technique of alkaline extraction. <...> Genotypes were determined with the minisequencing technique followed by MALDI-TOF detection (Ross et al., 1998). <...> Statistical analysis, performed with the software «Statistica 8.0», included descriptive statistics, normalization procedure, one-way ANOVA with Scheffe’s test for multiple comparisons. <...> Statistical analysis has revealed the tendency to signifi cant difference in genotype frequencies between wrestlers (FTO*TT 52.5% FTO*AT 32.5% FTO*AA 15.0%) and sedentary controls (FTO*TT 48.9% FTO*AT 32.5% FTO*AA 18.6%), χ2 = 5.52, p=.06 There is a certain increase of T-allele frequency in the wrestlers’ group (69% vs 65%). <...> In general, the athletes demonstrate lower fat accumulation matching with the controls. <...> ANOVA results revealed a lot of associations between FTO genotype and anthropometrical characteristics, describing fat accumulation both in the wrestlers’ group (weight, fat mass, chest, waist and hips circumferences, trunk and leg skinfold thicknesses) and in the sedentary controls (trunk skinfold thickness). <...> The carriers of two mutant alleles (AA genotype) demonstrate increased parameters of fat accumulation in both groups. <...> Thus, the presence of two rare alleles of the FTO gene polymorphic system in the genotypes of the investigated Kalmykian males could be considered as a risk-factor of increased fat accumulation. <...> Key words: FTO gene, fat accumulation <...>