Canada will not let ice hockey players from Russia or Belarus take part in the World Junior Championships next month.
Russia had been suspended from competing in International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) events since the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but last week the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) overturned the ban.
The IIHF has reaffirmed its “disagreement” with the decision, adding in a statement that the situation and implications for upcoming events will be closely monitored.
“The global impact of the decision made by the Cas Panel and the challenges it creates for all involved were significantly underestimated,” an IIHF statement said.
Ukraine’s ice hockey federation expressed “deep outrage” at Russia being allowed to compete in international events again.
“While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified, horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that’s going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada,” Canada prime minister Mark Carney said.
“So, if you’re asking specifically about the World Juniors, the Russians will not be there.”
The World Junior Ice Hockey Championships are scheduled to run from 26 December to 5 January.
Oleg Stepanov, the Russian ambassador to Canada, said: “It is regrettable that Carney’s office is bringing politics even into junior hockey, which is meant to unite, not divide.”
National ice hockey federations in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic also said on Tuesday they would refuse to play Russia at next year’s men’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany.
