Berlin (dpa) – One day after the exclusion of eight Russians, the German Judo Federation (DJB) confirmed its participation in the World Championships in Doha from Sunday. This is also in accordance with the line of the Ministry of the Interior, which promotes the start of German athletes even when Russian and Belarusian athletes participate in order to avoid disadvantages in the qualification phase for the Olympic Games, the DJB announced.
“The DJB gives its athletes the chance to compete with the top international elite at the World Championships and to maintain a fair chance of participating in the Olympic Games,” the association justified its decision. The political dimension of this World Cup should not be carried out on the backs of the athletes who have been working towards their dream of the Olympics for many years.
The IJF relies on “background checks”
The World Judo Federation (IJF) had decided in principle to admit athletes from Russia and Belarus to the World Championships. The planned members of the Russian delegation are not allowed to travel to Qatar for the title fights after the background checks, as the world association announced. Only athletes who do not support the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine should take part in the World Championships. The IJF wants to ensure this with the checks. As a result, Ukraine canceled its participation.
At the end of March, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended the re-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutral athletes to international competitions.
“Against the background of the clear war situation with the aggressor Russia and the difficult examination of the positioning of Russian and Belarusian athletes with regard to the Russian invasion, the DJB would have expressly wished for a different decision by the IOC and subsequently by the IJF in order to send a signal against this aggressive war, which the DJB condemns in the strongest possible terms,” wrote the German association in its statement.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230504-99-561422/2
2023-05-04 15:27:59
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