Ukraine will not participate in the World Judo Championships to protest the presence of Russians and Belarusians
Most of the Russian judokas are soldiers of the Russian army, according to the statement.
The Ukrainian Judo Federation announced on Monday that it will not send a delegation to the World Judo Championships due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian judokas, some of whom are active military personnel. The championship will be held in Qatar from May 7 to 14.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) on Sunday gave the green light for Russians and Belarusians to participate in the World Championships, provided they compete individually and under a neutral flag.
The Ukrainian federation said on Monday that "the majority of the Russian team consists of athletes who are soldiers of the army of the Russian Federation, which attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022" and which "continues to wage a brutal war against our country."
"More than 250 Ukrainian athletes have given their lives defending the country, including judokas," the Ukrainian federation said, adding that it "does not see here the neutrality, equal conditions and 'bridge to peace' referred to in the IJF Resolution on the participation of Russian and Belarusian teams in the World Championships in Doha."
"Moreover, we believe that this decision contradicts the latest recommendations of the International Olympic Committee of March 28, 2023, that the status of a neutral athlete can only be granted to those who are not in the military," the statement reads.
Background. As a reminder, the Brazilian football club will play under the name FC Mariupol to revive the spirit of the destroyed city.
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