IIHF to keep Russian, Belarus hockey teams off competitions throughout the war

Russia and Belarus won’t be allowed to compete in International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments as long as the war in Ukraine goes on, IIHF President Luc Tardif told reporters on Sunday, according to AP.

“I hope Russia and Belarus will come back as soon as possible because it will mean the war is over,” he said during a news conference in Toronto.

“It’s a question of security for fans, our teams. Anyway, no visa, cannot travel,” Tardif added. “And nobody knows how long it’s going to take.”

The International Olympic Committee has issued recommendations for international sports federations to allow athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to compete individually and subject to certain conditions. However, these recommendations are inapplicable to hockey, a team sport. Another issue mentioned by Tardif is security concerns after the IIHF’s last month risk assessment study concluded that it would not be safe to allow Russia and Belarus to compete.

Photo: Luc Tardif, International Ice Hockey Federation president, answers questions from reporters during a news conference at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jan. 5, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)

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