JOAWC 2022: Russian or Belarusian junior Agility handlers are not allowed to compete as single neutral athletes

Immediately after Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, all Russian teams were banned from international FCI competitions. At first, there was still uncertainty as to whether participation in certain tournaments as a single athlete under a neutral flag would be possible. The organizers of the Junior Open Agility World Championship 2022 in Finland initially said that although Russia was not allowed to provide its own national team, the children and young people were allowed to start as neutral teams. In the meantime, the organizers and the FCI have revised this statement and created clarity. Both the national team and individuals from Russia and Belarussia are excluded from competing in Finland.

The decision in Finland is mainly based on the policy of the International Olympic Committee. This issued the following statement on February 28, 2022: “In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organizers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.” Since the Finnish Kennel Club, and accordingly also the subordinate Finnish Agility Association, is part of the National Olympic Committee, this stance is supported.

Finland is one of only a few countries where dog sport is part of the National Olympic Committee. Whether participation in another country would have been possible is also an open question. Especially because of the increasing number of atrocities against defenseless civilians, attacks and sexual assault on women and violence against children in Ukraine by the Russian military. The Junior Open Agility World Championship will be held in Vantaa from July 14th to 17th.

Source: https://www.joawc2022.fi/competitors/fci-no-russian-or-belarusian-handlers-allowed