As things currently stand, the coming luge season will also take place without athletes from Russia due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. These remain closed, as the World Luge Federation Fil decided at its congress in the Romanian capital Bucharest. 22 member nations spoke in favor of it, one was against it and five abstained.
All athletes, coaches and other officials of the Russian Luge Federation will remain banned from Fil competitions until further notice in order to ensure “safety” and “peaceful sports competitions with integrity,” according to an association statement. As long as the war that began in February 2022 lasts, the Russians will remain outside the sport of luge. Russian athletes were already excluded last winter because of this.
The Fil is not following the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally again as neutral athletes under certain conditions, despite the war in Ukraine.
The world gymnastics association Fig had also stuck to the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians. Other associations, such as the World Judo Federation, had readmitted Russian and Belarusian judoka as neutral athletes at the World Championships following the IOC recommendation. That’s why Ukraine boycotted the World Cup. The world cycling association UCI has also allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in international events under strict conditions.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230618-99-96321/2
2023-09-25 03:05:23
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