IIHF taking necessary steps to comply with Russia return ruling, while Belarus ban remains

IIHF addresses the ruling

The IIHF announced Saturday that Belarus will not take part in upcoming world tournaments. It also said it is working to meet the requirements of the CAS ruling on Russian participation.

The federation said it disagrees with the decision but is examining what conditions would be needed to safeguard its championships, financial stability and the future of international ice hockey. It said it must operate within the applicable framework while protecting the sport and international competition. The IIHF is also considering discussions with affected national member associations, including the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, to find a constructive path forward.

World Juniors affected first

Next month’s World Junior Championships will be the first tournament affected by the ruling. Belarus will not participate, the IIHF said.

Political and sponsor reactions

Russian President Vladimir Putin said restrictions on Russian sports were not based on law and described them as politicized. He called them a violation of law and judicial rulings, according to a translation.