Russia, Belarus banned from international hockey world championships next season

22.03.2023 - 20:53 cbc.ca

Russia and Belarus teams were excluded by the International Ice Hockey Federation on Wednesday from all its world championships next season, including the women's event in the United States.

The IIHF cited security concerns for players, competition staff and fans — because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine — to extend the exclusion that will stretch beyond two years when the 2023-24 season is over. "It is too soon," IIHF president Luc Tardif said about letting Russia return. "Too many risks." Ice hockey is a favourite sport played by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The IIHF has followed guidance given by the International Olympic Committee within days of Russia starting the war in February last year to remove Russian teams from international competitions and to find new hosts for events the country was to stage.

However, the IOC is now pushing Olympic sports governing bodies to find ways to include Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals in qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Games.

Sporting hockey IIHF Winter Games Vladimir Putin Paris Games Russia Ukraine Switzerland Usa Belarus county Alexander

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