International Skating Union upholds ban on Belarusian, Russian athletes

June 11, BPN. The Council of the International Skating Union (ISU) has upheld the ban of Belarusian and Russian athletes and officials from its international competitions, its press office reported.

The ISU reiterated “its sympathy for and solidarity to all affected by the war in Ukraine,” noting that it “maintains its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms.”

At the same time, the ISU would “explore the feasibility issues” with regard to the recent International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations of admitting athletes as neutrals, the statement noted.

Four days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the IOC called on 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 Russian and Belarusian athletes.

However, in late March 2023, the IOC said that Belarusian and Russian athletes might be admitted to international competitions under a neutral flag on condition that they are not actively involved in supporting military operations and are not linked to the military.

A number of international sports federations followed the IOC call and allowed athletes from Belarus and Russia to take part in their competitions.