Ukrainian federation alleges that Russian judokas registered for championships in Qatar are ‘lively servicemen’.
Ukrainian judokas won’t participate on this month’s World Judo Championships in Qatar following the Worldwide Judo Federation’s (IJF) determination to readmit Russians and Belarusians as neutrals, the Ukrainian Judo Federation (UJF) has stated.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) final month beneficial that athletes from the 2 international locations be allowed to return to worldwide competitors as neutrals.
The IJF final week introduced that it could permit judokas from Russia and Belarus to take part within the Might 7-14 championships, saying its determination would permit Russians and Belarusians to take part in qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris.
The IOC’s suggestions exclude athletes who assist the conflict or are contracted to navy or nationwide safety companies. The IJF has stated it has enlisted an unbiased firm to carry out background checks and determine any such athletes.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian federation (UJF) alleged that plenty of Russian judokas registered for the championships are “lively servicemen”.
“We don’t see right here neutrality, equal situations and a ‘bridge to peace’, as said within the IJF Decision on the participation of Russian and Belarusian groups within the World Championships in Doha,” the UJF stated on Monday.
“We see right here a choice that contradicts the newest suggestions of the Worldwide Olympic Committee … We’re disenchanted with the choice of the Worldwide Judo Federation. Due to this fact, now we have determined to not take part within the World Championships in Doha.”
The federation stated greater than 250 Ukrainian athletes – together with judokas – have given their lives defending the nation in opposition to a Russian military “nonetheless waging a brutal full-scale conflict on our territory, shelling Ukrainian cities, civilian properties every single day, killing civilians and youngsters”.
Ukraine has barred its nationwide sports activities groups from competing in occasions that embrace rivals from Russia and Belarus.
The IJF and the Russian judo federation didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Moscow has beforehand condemned strikes to limit or ban its athletes from competing as “discrimination on the idea of nationality” and says all athletes have to be allowed to compete.
After Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus was a staging space for Russian troops, the IJF eliminated Russian President Vladimir Putin from his place as honorary president and cancelled a Grand Slam occasion in Kazan, Russia.