BERLIN: The International Judo Federation (IJF) announced that Russian and Belarussian judokas can compete as neutrals at this month’s worldwide championships in Doha, prompting Ukraine to withdraw from the event from May 7 to 14.
While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Ukraine has barred its national sports teams from competing in events that include competitors from Russia and Belarus. The International Judo Federation (IJF) announced on Tuesday that the IJF Executive Committee voted to allow neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) in the World Judo Championships 2023 in Doha, Qatar.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suggested last month that athletes from both countries be permitted to compete as neutrals, which means they compete under a neutral flag with no emblems or anthem. Athletes must have no ties to the Russian military and must not have made pro-war sentiments.
Russian and Belarussian participants
The International Judo Federation Executive Committee stated that it had received a list of potential Russian and Belarussian participants and had commissioned independent background checks on the athletes and delegates, as well as any social media contacts involving pro-war propaganda.
According to the IJF, they work hard to ensure that all athletes, regardless of nationality or background, have the chance to participate on a level playing field, free of discrimination.
It announced last week that athletes from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete in the championships, allowing them to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. According to the Ukrainian federation’s website, many of the Russian judoka who have enrolled for the championships are from the army.
They claimed that the majority of the team consists of athletes who are active members of the Russian Federation’s armed forces, part of the army that attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and is still waging a brutal full-scale war on our territory, shelling Ukrainian cities and civilian homes every day, shooting peaceful citizens and children.
Following Russia’s invasion, during which Belarus served as a staging area for some troops of Russia, the IJF stripped Russian President Vladimir Putin of his honorary presidency and cancelled a Grand Slam event in Kazan, Russia.
