The sanctions against Russia continue as the country has been banned from athletics, basketball, ice skating, volleyball and skiing on Tuesday, a day after it was banned from soccer and hockey tournaments, the favorite sport of its president, Vladimir Putin.
The International Ice Skating Union (ISU) said that no skaters from Russia or Belarus “will be invited or allowed to participate” in competitions until further notice.
“The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire population and country of Ukraine,” the discipline’s governing body said in a statement.
The figure skating world championships are scheduled for later this month in Montpellier, France. The ISU’s decision means Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova and her partner Kamila Valieva, 15, who was at the center of an unsolved doping case during the Beijing Winter Olympics last month, will be left out of the event.
More sanctions are in order for Russian athletes and teams
In Norway, Russian cross-country skiers – who won 11 medals at the Beijing Games – had to return home after being barred from competition by the International Ski Federation.
The decision was made after a three-day conflict with Norwegian ski officials, who insisted on not allowing the Russians and Belarusians to participate even if the governing body maintained the criterion of letting them compete under the figure of “Authorized Neutral Athlete”.
In athletics, Russia has been suspended since 2015 for doping violations but has been able to compete as a neutral. On Tuesday, the discipline resolved to completely sideline Russia and Belarus.
Also on Tuesday, the International Volleyball Federation stripped Russia of hosting the men’s World Cup in August and September and will seek another country or countries to host. Russia appears as the venue for the short course world championships in December.
The invasion has also caused several sponsors and companies to break ties with Russian athletes and teams. Adidas, manufacturer of the official football team jersey, announced the immediate suspension of its agreement with the federation.