Belarus’ ice hockey team barred from 2024 World Championship

March 22, BPN. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council has barred the Belarusian and Russian national teams from competing in the 2024 World Championship.

The decision was taken after consultations with “a renowned company that specializes in assessing risks due to various global challenges,” the IIHF said on its website.

“It is not yet safe to reincorporate the Russian and Belarusian Teams back into IIHF Competitions,” the federation said.

In late February 2022, the Belarusian and Russian national teams were suspended from international tournaments indefinitely. The decision was taken a few days after the Russian army had invaded Ukraine using Belarus’ territory and infrastructure.

In May, it was announced that the 2024 World Championship would be held without the Belarusians and Russians.

Last year, on February 28, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) called upon the international sports federations not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. That call was immediately answered on a mass scale, and resulted in almost complete isolation of the Russian and Belarusian sport.

On January 25, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed sanctions against Belarus and Russia introduced earlier over Russia’s war in Ukraine and Belarusian authorities’ complicity in it.

However, the IOC leadership stressed that no athlete should be “prevented from competing just because of their passport.” It announced “individual checks” for all athletes and said it would allow Belarusians and Russians to compete only in a neutral status, even if they declare antiwar positions.

After the IOC statement, some international federations (fencing, boxing) lifted sanctions against the Belarusians and Russians.