International Skating Union bans Russian athletes amid attacks on Ukraine

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The International Skating Union (ISU) followed the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee and announced Tuesday that any athlete from Russia and Belarus will be barred from competing in international events "until further notice." 

The ISU was the latest international sports group to reaffirm its support of Ukraine, noting that the ban will be put in place "in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants." 

RUSSIA FACING SPORTS ISOLATION OVER INVASION OF UKRAINE

"The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country," the statement read. "The ISU Council reaffirms its full solidarity with the ISU Members in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Speed Skating Federation and the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation. The ISU Council will evaluate possibilities for swift humanitarian assistance to its Ukrainian ISU Members."

Gold medallists Russia's Kamila Valieva, Russia's Mark Kondratiuk, Russia's Anastasia Mishina, Russia's Aleksandr Galliamov, Russia's Victoria Sinitsina and Russia's Nikita Katsalapov celebrate during the flower ceremony of the figure skating team event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Feb. 7, 2022. (WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

It continued: "Following the IOC recommendation, in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with