Estonia latest country to ban Russian athletes as backlash intensifies
- Estonia has become the latest country to block Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing on its territory, citing concerns that their participation would undermine support for Ukraine and provide propaganda opportunities.
- Scandinavian neighbours Norway and Finland confirmed on Thursday they would also block visas for Russian athletes, joining Canada in similar moves to restrict participation amid the ongoing war.
- The International Ski Federation stated it is "committed to offering full support to athletes," while clarifying that host countries retain sole authority over visa and entry policies.
- These moves come amid a mounting backlash over the reinstatement of athletes from Russia and Belarus, following the Cas decision last month to overturn an IIHF ban.
- Despite the controversy, Russia is set to host the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, while the International Olympic Committee provisionally reinstated Russian competitors in July, stating a 2023 ban was "no longer applicable.
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34 Articles
The Estonian Ministry of Culture has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from entering the country due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports.
Estonia Stands With Canada in Blocking Russian Athletes Amid International Sports Reintegration
For Russian and Belarusian athletes, September 2026 brought fresh hope of returning to international sport after years of restrictions. FIS announced that eligible competitors from both countries could return to its events during the 2026-27 season as neutral athletes. However, several countries have pushed back against the move. Canada announced visa restrictions on Russian players […]
Estonia has become the most recent country that has declared that it will not allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on its territory as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine, BBC reports.
Estonia has officially refused to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in its territory, and this position has been confirmed by Estonia after easing the rules for their return to the international arena by the ski federation, as reported by Sport RBC.UA with reference to the Estonian edition of ERR. In early September, the International Federation of Ski Sports (FIS) decided to relax the criteria for Russian and Belarusian athletes.…
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