FIS suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes until the end of the season

MOSCOW, 1 Mar. The International Ski Federation (FIS) will not allow participation in competitions in all types under the auspices of the organization of Russian and Belarusian athletes, according to the FIS website. This decision was made in accordance with the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) against the backdrop of aggravated Russian-Ukrainian relations . The ban will remain in effect until the end of the 2021/22 season. “The FIS Council expressed its deepest and most sincere hope that the conflict in Ukraine will end quickly and that the international sports community can begin the recovery process to compete again with all the athletes and countries present,” The organization will also provide financial and logistical support to Ukrainian athletes until they can return home safely. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided on a special Russian military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to the Russians, he said that the circumstances “require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.” On February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR.