The IJF suspended Putin as honorary president and ambassador of judo in Russia due to the war with Ukraine, a more than wise decision in these times that indirectly “stain” sports.
The Grand Slam scheduled for May in Kazan It was already canceled last Friday as a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has many references in world judo; the president of the International Federation, Marius Vizer, is a friend of Putin and the European Federation is led by the Russian Sergey Soloveychik. Both organizations receive considerable sponsorship from the aforementioned country.
