Ukrainian fencers will boycott competitions with Russian and Belarussian athletes
Ukrainian fencers will not participate in competitions with Russians and Belarusians (Photo:Національна федерація фехтування України / Facebook)
Ukrainian fencers, as well as coaches and referees, will not participate in the same tournaments as Russians and Belarusians, the Ukrainian Fencing Federation (FFU) said after an urgent online meeting on March 20.
The International Fencing Federation has announced that the group intends to allow Russian and Belarussian athletes to compete again in mid-April.
In turn, the FFU held a special meeting to discuss its response.
"It was decided not only not to fight at competitions of any level with directly Russian and Belarusian athletes, but also for our athletes, coaches, and judges not to participate in competitions where Russian or Belarusian athletes will participate with the active involvement of athletes from other countries," the official statement on the website of the FFU reads.
The FFU decided to create a working group that will determine a plan and actions for Ukrainian athletes and coaches at upcoming tournaments where athletes from Russia and Belarus may be present. The FFU also discussed appealing against the FIE decision.
The International Fencing Federation voted in favour of lifting a ban on Russian and Belarusian fencers from international competitions that was imposed from March 2022 according to the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.
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