Badminton federation extends ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes

The BWF first banned Russian and Belarusian athletes in March final yr after Russia invaded Ukraine, initially utilizing its ally Belarus as a staging floor in what Russia referred to as a “special military operation”.

The BWF’s determination comes regardless of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) recommending final month that athletes from Russia and Belarus be allowed to return to competitors as neutrals, offering they didn’t assist the struggle or weren’t affiliated to the army.

Desk tennis, fencing, judo and taekwondo are among the many Olympic sports activities which have readmitted athletes from the 2 international locations as neutrals.

The BWF mentioned in an announcement that the choice to increase the ban was taken at its council assembly on Tuesday.

“BWF acknowledges that sport should foster peace and solidarity between all people, and that sport should not become a political vehicle for influence in geo-politics,” the governing physique mentioned.

“In that sense, the tenet is that athletes ought to at all times be allowed to take part in sport competitions with out judgement of their passport and separate of any geo-political battle outdoors the management of the sports activities motion.

“Nevertheless… BWF just isn’t satisfied there may be passable justification to elevate the suspensions on Russian and Belarussian gamers and officers at the moment.

“BWF continues to express unwavering support to the people of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian badminton community, and we strongly condemn the invasion of Ukraine, which works against BWF’s core values and our objective to obtain peace.”

Singles and doubles qualification in badminton for subsequent yr’s Olympics in Paris will likely be based mostly on outcomes achieved in tournaments between Could 1, 2023 and April 28, 2024.