Vladimir Putin in his judo kimono. /
The Russian president, black belt and eighth dan in this martial art, has been dismissed as honorary president of the International Federation
The International Judo Federation suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday as honorary leader and ambassador of the sport. One more consequence, but a very significant one, of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, which is on the way to isolating Russians in the world of sport.
“In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of the status of Mr. Vladimir Putin as honorary president and ambassador of this body,” confirmed the highest association of this sport in a statement. In this line, the Grand Slam scheduled to be played in May in Kazan was already canceled last Friday.
Putin, honorary president of this organization since 2008, is an enthusiastic practitioner of judo and has reached the level of black belt. Russia has great influence in world judo, to the point that the president of the International Federation, Marius Vizer, is a friend of Putin and the European Federation is led by the Russian Sergey Soloveychik. And both bodies receive considerable sponsorship from Russia.
Almost a quarter of a century ago, when Putin was not yet the president of Russia, he served as president of the Russian Judo Federation and leader of the team that, for example, participated in the European Championship that was held in Oviedo. Upon reaching the presidency of his country, Putin did not abandon this martial art, which he continued to be part of his agenda almost daily. Putin has reached the eighth dan, one of the highest categories of the discipline and record that few judokas can boast.
Gone are the virtues that the International Judo Federation praised Putin when he was appointed 14 years ago. “A renowned judoka emeritus and having the stature of a prominent country’s Head of State, Vladimir Putin is the perfect ambassador for our sport,” IJF President Marius Vizer commented on his appointment. «It is a great honor for our international federation, as well as for the entire judo community, to have a personality of his reputation and prestige. President Putin represents a high expression of the values of judo in the world,” Vizer added in 2008.
cascade of failures
Judo is far from the only sport that has repudiated Putin in recent hours. Recently, the organizer of the Formula 1 World Championship, the American company Liberty Media, decided to cancel the Russian Grand Prix, which was to be held at the Sochi circuit in September. The news came after the first pre-season tests that have taken place these days at the Montmeló circuit.
Likewise, UEFA announced that the Champions League final on May 28 will be played in Paris, at the Saint-Denis stadium, instead of in Saint Petersburg as scheduled. Also in football, but at the level of the national teams, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have made public their boycott of Russia in the play-off qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar that will take place in March. A big ordeal for FIFA.
