Both camps are filling out, in the Olympic movement, on the question of a return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the international scene. Unlike modern pentathlon, badminton has chosen to maintain their exclusion from its competitions. The world body of the discipline (BWF) indicated in a press release, Thursday April 20, that its executive committee had decided in favor of an extension of the suspension of players and officials from the two countries. Badminton joins in particular, among the Summer Olympic sports, athletics and horse riding. In its press release, the BWF justifies its position by a concern to “ preserve the integrity of badminton competitions and ensure the safety of all athletes”. She continues: “ The BWF recognizes that sport should promote peace and solidarity among all people, and should not become a political tool to influence geopolitics. In this sense, the guiding principle is that athletes should always be allowed to participate in sports competitions without their passports being judged and regardless of any geopolitical conflicts beyond the control of the sports movement. However, given the risks to players and events that could arise from reopening participation, as well as moves to gain greater clarity on the IOC's complex criteria for authorizing participation, and any repercussions this could having, including the conditions related to Olympic qualification and potential participation in the Paris 2024 Games, the BWF is not convinced that there is a satisfactory justification to lift the suspensions of Russian and Belarusian players and officials at the 'actual hour. »
