More sporting sanctions fall on Russia
By George Aluo, with agency reports
Russia has continued to bleed on the sporting front over her invasion of Ukraine.
The International Skating Union (ISU) has now joined the league of international sporting bodies that has sanctioned Russia.
ISU yesterday confirmed that Moscow will not host a Grand Prix of Figure Skating leg in November, with no international events being held in Russia and Belarus “until further notice”.
According to insidethegames.biz a replacement Grand Prix host will be sought for November 25 to 27, with interested National Federations asked to contact the ISU’s figure skating sports director Patricia Mayor by May 6.
The ISU had asked its members what punishment they thought Russia should face in response to the war in Ukraine, with athletes from the nations already barred from events.
Skaters and officials from the Russian Skating Union, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia and the Skating Union of Belarus remain banned from ISU competitions “until further notice”.
More than 20 ISU members had called on the Council to prevent members from Russia and Belarus attending its Congress in Phuket, scheduled for June 6 to 10, and other official meetings and seminars, and ban candidates from both countries from standing for positions at the Congress.
The Council has opted not to enact these measures, instead leaving them subject to a vote by members at the Congress, potentially at the beginning of the event.
The ISU claimed this decision was taken “considering the fundamental rights of ISU Members as laid down in the ISU Statutes and in Swiss Law, the ISU’s obligation to ensure that the interests of all ISU Members are observed and respected, and mindful of securing the validity of the upcoming 2022 ISU Congress”.
The latest “protective measures” implemented due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine came following an online ISU Council meeting yesterday.
They also come following bids from Russia and Belarus to hold several major ISU events between 2024 and 2026.
