{"id":191649,"date":"2026-06-12T17:43:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191649\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:44:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:44:00","slug":"ukraine-urges-30-international-federations-to-maintain-restrictions-on-belarusian-athletes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191649\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine urges 30 international federations to maintain restrictions on Belarusian athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 12, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>As more federations clear Belarusian and Russian athletes for participation in competitions, Ukraine\u2019s sports agencies have sent out 30 official letters in May and June warning against admitting athletes from the aggressor countries to competitions under their state flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s National Olympic Committee, together with its sports ministry and national sport federations called for \u201censuring consistent implementation of the norms of the Olympic Charter and principles of international sports law,\u201d the Committee reported on June 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letters were addressed, in particular, to the international federations for boxing, volleyball, judo, ice hockey, shooting sports, sailing, rowing, speed skating, basketball, cycling, equestrian sports, bobsleigh and skeleton, wrestling, figure skating, modern pentathlon, swimming, tennis, canoeing and kayaking, athletics, roller sports, triathlon, archery, American football, baseball, luge, rugby, sport climbing, weightlifting and soccer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the letters, Ukraine emphasizes that Russia continues its full-scale war against Ukraine and Belarus remains an accomplice in the aggression by providing its territory and infrastructure for military action against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine stresses the \u201cabsence of any change in the security and humanitarian situation that could serve as grounds for reviewing the restrictions against representatives of Russia and Belarus.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine also notes the consequences of the war for Ukrainian sports, including the destruction of sports infrastructure, the deaths of more than 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches since February 2022, and the \u201cimpossibility of ensuring equal conditions for athletic competition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 7, 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted recommendations to restrict the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions by international federations and international sports event organizers. Ukraine expressed protest and disappointment with the IOC decision, stressing that it contradicted the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine with the help of authorities in Minsk in February 2022, the IOC urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all competitions. Later, it recommended that some of them could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All restrictions on Belarusian athletes have been lifted by the international governing bodies for karate, gymnastics, fencing, cycling, dance sport, billiards, water skiing, boxing, sailing, muay thai, modern pentathlon and volleyball, as well as the International University Sports Federation, under whose auspices the Summer and Winter World University Games will take place in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the International Tennis Federation and World Athletics have maintained restrictions imposed in connection with Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and the Belarusian regime\u2019s role in it. Belarus\u2019 national soccer team as well as soccer clubs are also subject to restrictions, playing their international \u201chome\u201d games at neutral venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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