The US and its allies ask to withdraw Russia and Belarus from international sports federations

The United States and its allies called Tuesday for the governing bodies of sports in Russia and Belarus to be suspended from international sports federations for the invasion of Russia to Ukraine.

“Russia’s unjustifiable and unprovoked war against Ukraine, facilitated by the government of Belarus, is an abhorrent and flagrant violation of its international obligations,” the US State Department said in a statement. “Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations are the foundation of international sport.”

The note also demands that “individuals closely aligned with the states of Russia and Belarus, including but not limited to government officials, should be removed from positions of influence in international sports federations, such as organizing boards and committees.”

It also proposes the suspension of broadcasts of sports competitions in both countries.

The document adds that if a sports organization allows citizens of any of these countries to participate in an event, “it must be clear that they do not represent the states of Russia or Belarus” and must not use their flags, emblems and anthems.

“We call on all international sports federations to adopt these principles, to applaud all those who have already taken action and to encourage their own internal sports bodies to engage with their federations to do so,” reads the statement, signed by more than 30 countries.

“These restrictions must be in place until cooperation under a rules-based international order is possible again,” he concluded.

^{* With information from Reuters.}

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