CAS orders IIHF to reinstate Russian teams at world hockey championships

The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation must allow Russian teams to compete in world championships. Canada, which is hosting the world junior championship, and Germany, where the senior tournament will be held, are considering their options.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must once again allow Russian teams to participate in world championships. Russian teams were barred from tournaments shortly after military actions began in Ukraine in February 2022.

“Our task now is to implement this decision responsibly,” said Franz Reindl of Germany, who was elected IIHF president last month. He said only a few weeks remain before several championships, and changes to the participants affect players, teams, organizing committees and host cities.

Вход в здание CAS в Лозанне (архивное фото)

The first tournament covered by the CAS decision will be the world junior championship, which starts on December 26 in Canada. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told CBC that she was “uncomfortable” with allowing the Russian team to compete in the tournament in Alberta and that “all options are on the table.” Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden indicated that Canada would maintain restrictions on Russian athletes competing in events funded by the government.

Germany, which will host the men’s world championship in May in Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf and Mannheim, is also considering its options and has not ruled out withdrawing from hosting the tournament.