FIL Congress confirms decision regarding Russia

Bucharest (FIL/17 June 2023) The 71st FIL Congress on June 17, 2023 in Bucharest (ROU) confirmed the decision of the FIL Executive Board regarding the sanctioning of Russia.

With 22 votes in favor, one vote against and five abstentions, the FIL Member Nations confirmed the following decision of the FIL Executive Board:

On the basis of paragraph 4.5.8 of the FIL Statutes, it is decided to suspend all athletes, coaches, trainers and other officials of the Russian Luge Federation from FIL sanctioned competitions until further notice.

In view of the ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, it is decided to suspend all participation rights of athletes, coaches, trainers and other officials of the Russian Luge Federation in FIL-sanctioned competitions until further notice in order to ensure safe, peaceful sports competitions with integrity.

The presence of Russian athletes, coaches, trainers and other officials of the Russian Luge Federation at competitions sanctioned by the FIL is associated with a high risk that the safety, peacefulness and integrity of these competitions and their participants (including those of the Russian Federation itself) will be seriously endangered. This risk is based on the causal personal involvement of the named persons in these FIL competitions and cannot be replaced by a less drastic measure, so that the suspension of participation is appropriate if and as long as the belligerent activities in Ukraine as the reason for this measure continue.