Two weeks have passed since the IOC announced its “ recommendation » to international federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. Two weeks during which the Olympic movement demonstrated rare unity.
The authorities followed the instructions of the IOC. Most have completely closed the door to representatives of the two countries. But several of them, including FINA (swimming) and IJF (judo), chose a middle path: they banned Russia and Belarus, but allowed their athletes to compete under a neutral banner.
On the governance side, however, the landscape remains less clear. Certainly, the sanctions imposed by the European Union, including the seizure of his assets, forced the Russian Alisher Usmanov to withdraw from the presidency of the International Fencing Federation (FIE). But the two other Russians at the head of an international sporting body, Umar Kremlev in boxing (IBA), and Vladimir Lisin in shooting (ISSF), are still in place.
Same situation at the IOC. Its two Russian members, Shamil Tarpishchev and Yelena Isinbayeva, retain their status. They are not banned, unlike athletes. And not temporarily dismissed either.
The following ? She appears confused. On the sporting field, namely competitions, the Ukrainians should be able to hold their place, despite the invasion of their country and the difficulties of training and travel. The solidarity effort initiated by several international federations (boxing, canoeing) should allow athletes to maintain their rank. A Ukrainian delegation made up of six athletes, all female, is announced this weekend at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade (March 18 to 20).
The Russians, on the other hand, can put their outfits away. Participation in competitions is now almost impossible for them, including in sports where it is authorized under the guise of neutrality. As proof, the recent announcement by the Russian Judo Federation to renounce all international events. The body explains its decision by the insecurity which could surround its judokas in competitions, and by the impossibility of traveling to a large number of countries in the world.
Elsewhere, the Olympic movement can expect uncertain times ahead. Seized by the Russian Football Federation, after its exclusion by FIFA from the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) must deliver its verdict in the days to come. It should set the tone for possible future procedures.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, explained this earlier this week during an online press briefing: “ I don't know of a single sports federation that naturally wants to exclude teams or individuals. We, the leaders, did not come into sport with this idea. But what is happening (the Russian invasion of Ukraine) changes the situation. It is obvious that this will set precedents. They will have to be faced individually, one after the other. And they will accompany us for years. By choosing exclusion, we are not making things easier for ourselves. But this decision was the right one”.
Unlike most of his counterparts, Sebastian Coe speaks from experience. World Athletics did not wait for the war in Ukraine to wipe Russia off the world athletics map. Its federation, RusAF, has been excluded since the end of 2015 for having established a culture of doping on a national scale. The participation of Russian athletes was, until the last two weeks, conditional on obtaining neutrality status.
« I have no problem with banning Russian athletes, insists Sebastian Coe. We have done it in our sport. I don't see why it should be different elsewhere, when this participation threatens the integrity of a discipline. »
The Briton anticipates it: the international sports movement will have to remain solid in its positions. “ The impact of the conflict is generall, suggests the Briton. The other international federations will have to remain very firm. And do exactly what we did"
