The Executive Committee of the World Shooting Federation on Monday confirmed its “leadership decision” to ban Russia and Belarus from all competitions.
ISSF ratifies decision to ban Russia and Belarus from its competitions (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The ISSF confirmed the decision to exclude Russia and Belarus from its competitions
- The ISSF expressed its full support to the people of Ukraine as well as to the athletes
- The ISSF “strongly” condemned the breach of the Olympic truce by Russia and Belarus
The Executive Committee of the International Shooting Federation (ISSF) acted on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee and confirmed its “management decision” to ban Russia and Belarus from all competitions.
The ratification comes after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which also banned athletes from Belarus from ISSF competitions because of their country’s involvement in the war.
The IOC had urged sports organizations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events, but left the final decision to individual governing bodies.
“The ISSF Executive Committee endorses the IOC Recommendation issued on February 28, 2022, aimed at protecting the integrity of global sporting competitions and ensuring the safety of all participants,” the global shooting sport governing body said in a statement.
“The ISSF fully supports any anti-war policy and the IOC recommendations not to allow athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus to compete in the ISSF Championships until further notice.”
Among other statements, the ISSF Executive Committee condemned “in the strongest terms” the “breach” of the Olympic ceasefire by the governments of Russia and Belarus and said it “fully supports the official statements of the ISSF President calling for war at the opening of the… ISSF condemned World Cup in Cairo, Egypt and during IF Presidents’ meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach on March 1, 2022.”
The Executive Committee also said that it “expresses the ISSF’s full support to the people of Ukraine, as well as to the athletes and shooting sports community in Ukraine, including the offer of humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian shooting family, drawn from the ISSF Development Fund appropriations target. “
The Supreme Executive Body of the ISSF concluded that it will “closely monitor the situation and, if necessary, take further action in cooperation with the IOC in accordance with the ISSF Constitution and the Olympic Charter”.
The 2022 European Shooting Championships, originally planned in Russia, were canceled shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
