2023-04-18 21:15:03
IIHF President Lucas Tardif revealed that the “final decision” on the participation of Russia and Belarus in 2026. d’Ampeco will not be admitted to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina until next March.
However, the Frenchman emphasized that they will be able to return if the war in Ukraine ends.
The Russian and Belarusian national teams were expelled by the IIHF last February due to the invasion of Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to the world sports stage if they do not support the war in Ukraine and are not associated with the military.
However, the IOC prohibits the registration of Russian and Belarusian teams for the competition, although the decision on participation in 2024 and 2026. not yet accepted in the Olympic competition.
Speaking at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in Brampton, Canada, L. Tardif revealed that no decision will be made this year on the return of Russia and Belarus.
“First, I hope that Russia and Belarus will return to the IIHF very soon, because that would mean that the war is over,” he said. – However, we will make a final decision on the participation of those countries in Milan in 2024. March, because the Olympic selection will start soon, and Belarus will have to participate in it.”
The Russian city of St Petersburg was due to host this year’s men’s World Cup, but was stripped of its rights last year due to the war in Ukraine.
Tardif added that the safety of spectators and participating countries would be part of her decision to return Russia and Belarus, an argument criticized by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, which described it as a “fanciful reason” to block their return.
“I understand that sometimes there is a political point of view,” said L.Tardif. – As a person, I have my own understanding of the situation.
But as head of the IIHF, I have to make a decision with the guidance of our executive committee and to protect our competition.”
Last year, L.Tardif, speaking to the Russian agency TASS, claimed that “everyone” wanted Russia and Belarus to return to the World Cup.
His comments came following 98 of the 119 delegates voted in favor of a mechanism that would allow Russia and Belarus to return to the top division of the World Cup if sanctions were lifted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Aliaksandr Lukashenka are playing ice hockey.
Belarus was supposed to host the 2021 the men’s World Cup, but it was moved to Latvia due to security concerns following Lukashenko’s controversial re-election sparked protests and a subsequent government crackdown.
L.Tardif’s predecessor in the post of IIHF president, Swiss René Fasel, who headed the organization from 1994 to 2021, acquired Russian citizenship in February.
R. Fasel made numerous pro-Russian remarks and criticized the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the state-sponsored doping program and subsequent cover-up.
The World Triathlon Federation is the latest international federation to lift the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus.
Skateboarding, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling have previously lifted bans on Russians and Belarusians as neutral athletes.
Other sports, including athletics, equestrian, sport climbing and surfing, have announced that their bans remain in place.
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