MOSCOW, Sep 16 President of the Judo Federation of Ukraine (FDU) Mikhail Koshlyak said that, according to him, the International Judo Federation (IJF) will allow Russian athletes to participate in the World Championships in neutral status. Earlier, the IJF canceled all tournaments in Russia due to the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, the organization allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international tournaments in a neutral status.
"I have received information from personal sources that the International Judo Federation in the last days before the World Championships will nevertheless declare the Russian team under a neutral flag, as it was at the Grand Slam tournament in Ulaanbaatar. If the information is true and this is the final decision of the IJF, we will boycott the start,” said Koshlyak, quoted by the official website of the FDU.
Earlier, the FDU announced a decision not to take part in all tournaments under the auspices of the IJF until the organization will not forbid Russians and Belarusians to compete in any status. The World Judo Championship will be held in Tashkent from 6 to 13 October.