Ukrainian judokas won’t participate on this month’s World Judo Championships in Qatar following the Worldwide Judo Federation’s (IJF) determination to readmit Russians and Belarusians as neutrals, the Ukrainian Judo Federation (UJF) has stated.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) final month advisable that athletes from the 2 international locations be allowed to return to worldwide competitors as neutrals.
The IJF final week introduced that it will permit judokas from Russia and Belarus to take part within the Could 7-14 championships, saying its determination would permit Russians and Belarusians to take part in qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris.
The IOC’s suggestions exclude athletes who assist the struggle or are contracted to navy or nationwide safety businesses. The IJF has stated it has enlisted an unbiased firm to carry out background checks and establish any such athletes.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian federation (UJF) alleged that various Russian judokas registered for the championships are “active servicemen”.
“We do not see here neutrality, equal conditions and a ‘bridge to peace’, as stated in the IJF Resolution on the participation of Russian and Belarusian teams in the World Championships in Doha,” the UJF stated.
“We see here a decision that contradicts the latest recommendations of the International Olympic Committee … We are disappointed with the decision of the International Judo Federation. Therefore, we have decided not to participate in the World Championships in Doha.”
The federation stated greater than 250 Ukrainian athletes – together with judokas – have given their lives defending the nation towards a Russian military “still waging a brutal full-scale war on our territory, shelling Ukrainian cities, civilian homes every day, killing civilians and children”.
