The International Ice Hockey Federation has issued an update on whether Belarusian and Russian teams can take part in its upcoming tournaments, including next month’s World Junior Championships.
In a statement Saturday, the IIHF said Belarus will not compete. It also said it is taking steps to follow a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that allows Russian teams to play.
The federation said it disagrees with the CAS decision but is reviewing what conditions might be needed to protect its competitions, its financial stability and the future of international hockey. It said it is considering options and plans to speak with affected national federations, including Russia’s, to find a way forward.
Last week, CAS overturned the IIHF’s decisions to bar Russian teams from upcoming men’s and women’s world championships. The World Juniors would be the first tournament affected by the ruling.
Hockey Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week that Russian players would not be allowed to take part in next month’s tournament in Alberta.
Russia was also absent from Olympic hockey earlier this year, the first Olympic tournament with NHL players since 2014, and from the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, four days after that year’s Olympic competition ended.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized organizations that have kept Russian athletes from competing for their country. In comments carried by the state-run news agency TASS, he said restrictions on Russian sport were politically motivated and violated legal commitments and judicial decisions.
Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Latvia and Denmark have said they would boycott games against Russia while the war in Ukraine continues. Germany, which is set to host the 2027 men’s world championships, has also raised the possibility of withdrawing if Russia is allowed to compete.
Workwear company STRAUSS, a major sponsor of next year’s world championships, threatened to withdraw after Finland said Monday it was seeking support from other countries to refuse to play Russia.
If Russia competes next month, it will be its first appearance at the World Juniors since 2021. The team has not won gold since 2011.
