Russia's war: No Fencing World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim
Due to Russia's war of aggression in the Ukraine, the Olympic Training Center in Tauberbischofsheim will not be hosting a women's foil fencing World Cup next year either. The Baden-Württemberg State Sports Association (LSV), which runs the facility, has made use of its domiciliary rights and cited the possible participation of Russian and Belarusian women as neutral athletes as the reason. This was reported by the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten". "Russia is still waging a war of aggression and the reasons for the athletes' exclusion have not changed. Therefore, from an ethical, moral and legal point of view, there is no reason for us to reconsider our position. We remain true to our values," said LSV President Jürgen Scholz. Managing Director Uli Derad explained: "If you said 'no' to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions after the start of the war, then you can't say 'yes' now."
Even before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russians and Belarusians be allowed back into international competitions, the Fencing World Federation (Fie) had opened the door to fencers from these two countries. Following the re-admission, the foil World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim in May was also canceled. It would have been the first World Cup at which the World Federation's decision would have had to be implemented.
The Fencing World Cup, originally scheduled for May in Tauberbischofsheim, was canceled due to the Fencing World Federation's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian fencers back into international competitions. Despite the World Cup being the first where the federation's decision would be implemented, conflicts arose around the participation of these athletes due to Russia's ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine.
Source: www.dpa.com
