Under increasing pressure, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now taken a tough stance against Russia and recommends its member federations to exclude Russian athletes from international events. This also applies to athletes from Belarus, as the IOC announced.
“In order to protect the integrity of global sporting events, the IOC Executive recommends that international sports federations and organizers not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international competitions,” the statement said. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) demands the same. “Sport must also fulfill its responsibility and accept the corresponding restrictions,” said the German sports umbrella organization.
What is Medvedev doing?
As a consequence, the IOC recommendation should mean that Russian athletes are no longer allowed to take part in international competitions. It is hard to imagine that the international track and field association World Athletics would evade such a guideline. But can the Russian world number one in men’s tennis, Daniil Medvedev, still compete at the French Open or Wimbledon? At this point in time, that is rather questionable.
Putin unwanted in judo
There have been reactions in the form of exclusions and suspensions in national and international football, but also in other individual disciplines – including what is considered Vladimir Putin’s favorite sport. The fact that the enthusiastic judoka, himself a black belt holder, was suspended by the World Judo Federation as honorary president and ambassador of the sport should at least affect the Russian president a little. Formula 1 had already decided on Thursday to skip the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi this year. The world table tennis association ITTF called for the cancellation or relocation of all events planned in Russia and Belarus.
Orienteers throw Russia out
The orienteering world association IOF was the first global umbrella organization belonging to the IOC to completely suspend Russia. As the association based in Karlstad, Sweden, announced on Monday, Russian athletes are no longer allowed to take part in international competitions, even if they have a neutral status. The association is also examining the suspension of Belarus.
“We want to express our solidarity with the Ukrainian federation and its athletes,” said IOF boss Leho Haldna: “We made this decision to live up to the values of the IOF, which are the core of our sport. The situation demands of us extraordinary measures to support the road to peace.” The exclusion primarily affects the World Ski Orienteering Championships in Finland (14th to 20th March). Along with Sweden, Russia is the dominant nation in this sport.
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Big misunderstanding
The International Ski Federation FIS, the Biathlon World Federation IBU and the International Gymnastics Federation FIG also decided on sanctions against Russian sport and, among other things, banned the Russian flag and anthem for the remaining World Cup competitions of the season. The IBU and FIG also imposed the ban on the flag and anthem on athletes from Belarus.
The Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) reacted with great incomprehension. The IBU decision is considered “illegal, unfounded and categorically unacceptable,” the RBU said. “This is direct discrimination against our country and Russian athletes, which is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement.” Action will be taken against the “unlawful conduct” in court.
