World Athletics has rejected the IOC's proposal to allow Belarusian athletes to compete in tournaments
The World Athletics Federation has decided to disregard the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations to ease sanctions against Belarusian athletes.
This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The organization has officially refused to allow athletes from the neighboring country to return to international competitions under their national symbols, maintaining a firm stance against the aggressor.
The association made it clear: “Any review of the restrictions is possible only on the condition of real progress in peace talks and the complete end of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
World Athletics’ position is based on indisputable facts of Minsk’s direct involvement in armed aggression against the Ukrainian people.
Belarusian territory and civilian infrastructure continue to be actively used by the occupying forces of the Russian Federation to conduct military operations.
Furthermore, all of the Belarusian regime’s political and economic resources are currently fully dedicated to meeting the needs of the aggressor country.
The association emphasized that the popular assertion that “sport is separate from politics” is completely false in the context of contemporary global security.
Sports officials are convinced that any easing of sanctions by international federations is a destructive step for the global community.
This is because Alexander Lukashenko’s regime has yet to face proper accountability for its role in unleashing a large-scale war.
Inna Kochubey has been named head coach of the Ukrainian women’s national basketball team
A player on the Belarusian national soccer team was drafted into the army mid-season
