World Judo Championships: Ukraine Judo Athletes to Boycott World Championships

Ukrainian judo athletes will not compete at the World Judo Championships in Qatar this month due to concerns about the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The International Judo Federation recently decided to allow Russian and Belarussian judokas to compete as neutrals, a decision which allows them to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.

In response, the Ukrainian Judo Federation announced on Monday that its athletes will not participate in the World Championships.

Last month, the International Olympic Committee recommended that Russian and Belarussian athletes should be permitted to compete under a neutral flag, but the IOC has yet to make a decision on Paris 2024.

The Ukrainian Judo Federation alleged that several Russian athletes registered for the World Championships are “active servicemen”, despite the IJF’s resolution on the participation of Russian and Belarussian teams.

The resolution promotes neutrality, equal conditions, and a “bridge to peace”, which the UJF believes is not reflected in the IJF’s decision to allow Russian and Belarussian athletes to compete.

The IJF has employed an independent company to conduct background checks on Russian and Belarussian athletes with “specific reference to possible war propaganda”.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the IJF removed Russian President Vladimir Putin from his position as honorary president and cancelled a Grand Slam event in Kazan, Russia.

On Saturday, the International Canoe Federation announced that Russian and Belarussian athletes “who are not in support of their State’s actions in Ukraine” may compete as neutrals.

The IOC has recommended that athletes and support personnel who actively support the war in Ukraine, or who are contracted to the military, should not be allowed to compete.