The Ukrainian federation body noted that “the majority of the Russian team are judokas who fight in the war as soldiers of the Russian Federation”, after the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with the support of Belarus.
“We believe this decision [da Federação Internacional de Judo (IJF)] goes against the latest recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, according to which neutral athlete status can only be granted to those who do not interfere in the conflict,” the Ukrainian officials warned.
The Kiev-based federation recalled that “more than 250 Ukrainian athletes died defending their country, including several judokas”, and claimed that it does not find “neutrality and equal treatment” in the decision announced by the IJF on Saturday.
The international organization has released a resolution allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return as neutral, in time for the next World Championships in Doha, from May 7 to 14, which they say attribute “significant points in qualifying”, which already started in June 2022.
The decision guarantees “fair participation” and “equal opportunity” without discrimination “those who pursue the Olympic dream”, based on the principles of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and on the idea of the United Nations, that ” the idea that everyone should be able to participate in sport,” referring to a 2019 resolution of this world body.
In March, the IOC allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition practices, under strict conditions of neutrality, without having supported the war or enlisted in the armed forces, leaving it to each international federation to decide how to proceed. this return.
In the case of the IJF, “verifications by an independent company” were conducted regarding the background of all athletes proposing to participate in the World Cup, including publications on social networks, and only those who pass this confirmation can participate in the world Championship. events.
“The IJF is an inclusive, values-based organization dedicated to promoting and protecting judo as a peaceful way to respect human rights and promote international unity, friendship and peace,” the resolution reads.
Until now, judo has been one of the few Olympic sports that did not immediately follow the 2022 IOC recommendations regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, allowing them to compete under a neutral flag.
Ukraine boycotted several events and had already threatened to do the same at the World Cup that year, prompting the IJF to back down and ban judokas from those countries until January of this year.
Now this question arises, which has also already happened in archery, fencing, modern pentathlon, skateboarding, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon and wrestling, as opposed to track and field, badminton, basketball, equestrian, climbing and surfing, which maintained the suspension.
Source: DN
