The International Judo Federation (IJF) announced on Saturday that it will allow the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes as early as May so they can compete in the decisive World Cup for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification.
The IJF released a resolution allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return, as neutrals, in time for the next World Championships in Doha, May 7-14, which they say will award “significant points in qualifying” , which 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 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.
The Russian military offensive launched in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 was justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security.
The UN presented as confirmed since the start of the war, which today has entered its 430th day, 8,574 civilian deaths and 14,441 wounded, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
