Russian athletes barred from beloved ice skating events amid ongoing invasion of Ukraine
Russian sports just took another major blow in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The International Skating Union, the body in charge of ice skating around the world, said Tuesday that athletes from Russia (or Belarus) would not be invited or allowed to participate in skating events until further notice, The Associated Press reports.
"The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country," the governing body said in a statement. The decision arrives one day after the International Olympic Committee recommended Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competing in international competitions while the devastating invasion unfolds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ice skating is an extremely popular sport back in Russia, with the country's athletes often dominating the competition. During the Winter Olympics last month, Russian figure skater and gold medal-favorite Kamila Valieva, 15, made headlines after finding herself at the center of a still-unresolved doping scandal; shockingly, she did not place in the top three of the women's free skate competition. Her teammate Anna Shcherbakova instead took the top spot.
Neither Valieva nor Shcherbakova, however, will be allowed to compete in the world figure skating championships this month as a result of the ISU's decision.
On Monday, Russia was also banned from competing in soccer competitions and hockey, which AP notes is President Vladimir Putin's favorite sport.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
South Carolina ends perfect season with NCAA title
Speed Read The women's basketball team won a victory over superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record
speed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Eight-year-old Brit Bodhana Sivanandan makes chess history
Speed Read Sivanandan has been described as a 'phenomenon' by chess masters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Watch Simone Biles win her record 8th US gymnastics championship
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Spain beats England 1-0 to win its first Women's World Cup
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
US knocked out of Women's World Cup in stunning exit
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps for most world championship titles
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published