Independent Board supports ban on Russian and Belarusian teams from IIHF conventions

The Independent International Ice Hockey Federation Disciplinary Action has dismissed appeals from the Russian and Belarus Ice Hockey Federations. According to the statement Announced on Tuesday, the IIHF upheld a ban on competition imposed on both countries in a prolonged invasion of Ukraine.

The decision to suspend Russia and Belarus from all age groups of the IIHF, enacted on February 28, was one of the most prominent sports-related actions taken in the early stages of the war. The 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships scheduled for Novosibirsk and Omsk have also withdrawn from Russia.

Russia’s Ice Hockey Federation soon called the decision “discriminatory” and said it challenged the decision.

However, the Disciplinary Actions Overturned the appeal, stating that the decision made by the IIHF was not a sanction, but a security policy that the international governing body had the right to adopt and implement under its legislation. Given the safety-focused nature of the decision, the Board said the policy turned out to be “proportional, not discriminatory.”

Russia and Belarus are eligible to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it is unclear at this time whether they will appeal.

“Welcome the decision of the Independent IIHF Disciplinary Commission to ban Russian and Belarus teams and withdraw the two World Championship Program events scheduled for next season in Russia. “I will,” said Tardiff, President of Luc II HF. “We argue that this decision was made with the safety and well-being of athletes, staff, officers, the media and spectators in mind, and we are pleased to agree with the Board.”