FIBA, skating union latest to ban Russian athletes

Russia team during the 2023 Fiba World Cup European Qualifiers. FIBA BASKETBALL PHOTO

Several more sports governing bodies are banning Russian teams and athletes from taking part in their competitions following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Tuesday, FIBA and the International Skating Union joined the growing list of organizations to bar Russians.

The International Volleyball Federation also removed Russia as the host of the men’s world championships this summer, while the governing bodies for pro tennis (ATP and WTA) said that players from Russia and Belarus can still participate but will not be permitted to compete under their nation’s flags.

FIBA and the ISU both issued statements in support of Ukraine.

“FIBA remains very concerned by the recent events in Ukraine and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victims,” read the statement issued Tuesday. “In line with the International Olympic Committee Executive Board resolution and its reasons, FIBA has announced today that Russian teams and officials will not be allowed to participate in FIBA Basketball and 3×3 Basketball competitions until further notice.”

“FIBA strongly condemns violence and hopes peace will urgently prevail.”

The skating union also banned athletes from Belarus from competing in sanctioned events until further notice, given Belarus’ support of the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

“The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country,” the ISU said in a statement.

2022 Beijing Olympics – Figure Skating – Women Single Skating – Free Skating – Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China – February 17, 2022. Anna Shcherbakova of the Russian Olympic Committee in action. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Russian figure skaters, on the women’s side, are the best in the world, and they won’t be competing in the world figure skating championships later this month in Montpellier, France. Russian Anna Shcherbakova won the gold medal and Alexandra Trusova the silver last month at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Their teammate, 15-year-old teammate Kamila Valieva, finished fourth after a disastrous long program that culminated a week in which she was found to have taken a banned substance in December but still was allowed to compete in women’s singles.

Already, FIFA ruled the Russians can’t compete in upcoming men’s World Cup football qualifiers. The Norwegian Ski Federation said Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in upcoming events in Norway. UEFA moved the Champions League final from St. Petersburg to Paris, and Formula 1 canceled the Russian Grand Prix.

In a joint statement condemning Russia’s actions on Tuesday, tennis officials also suspended the WTA/ATP combined event scheduled for October in Moscow.

The ATP and WTA also suspended the Russian Tennis Federation and Belarus Tennis Federation from all ITF international team competitions and canceled all ITF events in both countries.

“The safety of the tennis community is our most immediate collective priority,” their statement read. “The focus of the WTA and ATP in particular in recent days has been on contacting current and former players, and other members of the tennis community from Ukraine and neighboring countries, to check on their safety and offer any assistance.”

On Monday, the International Ice Hockey Federation barred Russia and Belarus from its events until further notice and pulled the world junior championships, set to begin in December, from Novosibirsk, Russia.

Esports organizer BLAST Premier also announced Tuesday that Russian-based teams will not be invited to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive events for the “foreseeable future.”

Field Level Media