Belarus Hockey Team Suspended From Playing For Another Season

• 13.02.2024, 8:38

The decision also concerns the "excommunication" from qualification for the Olympic Games.

The Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has decided not to allow the national teams of Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions under the auspices of the organisation in the season-2024/25.

This is reported by the ВВС with reference to the press service of the Federation.

"The IIHF Council has considered the current security risks associated with the reintegration of the national and club teams of Russia and Belarus into IIHF competitions. Based on a thorough analysis, the Council has concluded that the return of the Russian and Belarusian national teams to IIHF competitions is not yet safe, so these teams will not take part in the season-2024/25," the statement reads.

"The decision will also apply to the suspension of the Belarus national team from the final round of qualification for the 2026 Olympic Games, which will be held in August 2024.

As before, the IIHF will continue to monitor the situation. A new discussion on including Russia and Belarus in the tournament under the auspices of the IIHF in the 2025/26 season will take place in May 2025 at the IIHF Council meeting," the Federation said in its statement.

In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended to international federations not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions because of the situation in Ukraine.

The national teams of Russia and Belarus missed the world championships in 2022 and 2023 by the decision of the IIHF after the IOC recommendations, as well as will not perform at the world championship in the Czech Republic in 2024.