Former International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said that Russian ice hockey teams should compete at the upcoming world championship in May, speaking to the broadcaster Sport1.
The International Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Russian teams to return to international competition. That ruling triggered boycott threats from several countries, including world champion Finland, over potential matches against Russia.
“Meine Meinung ist klar und die war immer klar: Es kann nicht an Staaten liegen, an Regierungen liegen, wer wann wie und wo und warum an Sportwettbewerben teilnehmen kann,” said Thomas Bach, former IOC president.
Bach argued that the autonomy and neutrality of sport must be preserved. “Es zählen die sportlichen Qualifikationen und nicht die politischen Einstellungen,” Bach said.
The German Ice Hockey Federation, serving as tournament host, urged the International Ice Hockey Federation to find a quick solution that excludes Russia from participating.
The German government said that hosting the tournament with Russia participating would be practically impossible given the announced boycotts by opposing nations.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation threatened Germany with compensation claims if the national team faces another exclusion from the tournament. Vladislav Tretiak, head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, confirmed that the organization filed a corresponding request with the ethics committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation, according to the news agency Tass.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country will use sports justice to enforce the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions. Putin claimed that opponents are ignoring the legal system and disregarding the principles of the Olympic Charter.
“Wir müssen diesen juristischen Weg konsequent weiterverfolgen und die getroffenen Entscheidungen – auch die des Internationalen Sportgerichtshofs – wahren,” said Vladimir Putin, Russian President.
Ukraine could potentially lose its spot as a sporting promotion to the top division if Russia takes that position.
“Nun, das wäre mehr als problematisch, weil, wie gesagt, die sportliche Qualifikation zählen muss, und jemandem im Nachhinein die sportliche Qualifikation zu entziehen, das halte ich auch für höchst bedenklich,” Bach said.
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