World Boxing Council solidifies its stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as fighters from Russia and Belarus will be removed from its rankings
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WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman
On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, in a war that continues. This invasion by Russia has led the country and its athletes to be banned from many sporting events. The World Boxing Council, popularly known as the WBC, is one of the latest associations to take its stand against the Russian invasion.
According to multiple reports, during a convention in Mexico, the WBC announced that fighters from Russia and Belarus would be removed from their rankings. The latter suffered this fate due to being an ally of Russia.
During the convention on Tuesday, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said, “All fighters from Russia and Belarus are being removed from the WBC rankings. The WBC will not sanction any fights in those two countries and no national citizen from those two countries can compete for a WBC championship title.“
The WBC President further mentioned that while he felt for the athletes who would be removed, the WBC believes in peace. “I wish to express our deep regret for the athletes, for the promoters, for the members of the boxing industry from Russia and Belarus who will suffer with these consequences of the actions outside the ring. The WBC believes in peace, believes in fair play, and believes human dignity,” added Sulaiman.
However, Russian or Belarusian athletes who have been living in the US or elsewhere will be exempted from this ruling. This development comes after major boxing associations refused to sanction boxing championships in Russia. But, last month a famous association decided to lift its ban on Russia and Belarus.
International Boxing Association lifts ban on Russia and Belarus
The International Boxing Association is an independent sporting body that governs amateur boxing events around the world. Previously, it became the third international federation to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in its events. However, the ban was later lifted in October.
In a statement, the association added that sporting events must not be influenced by politics. Remaining politically neutral, the IBA called for peace and hinted towards fair play.
“IBA calls for peace and remains a peacemaker in any conflicts. Moreover, the IBA has obligation to ensure equal treatment towards the athletes and competition officials, regardless of their nationality and residence. Both Russian and Belarus teams will be able to perform under their flags, and the national anthems will be played in case they win a gold medal,” said the IBA in a press release.
Along with fighters being allowed to compete, the IBA also announced that technical officials from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to resume their work with the association. This decision to lift the ban on Russia was welcomed by the country.
The Russian Sports Minister in a statement said that the IBA lifting its ban is a major triumph for the country. He further mentioned that he wished other International federations would follow the IBA’s example. Overall, the IBA lifting its ban on Russia and Belarus will serve as a boost for the many sports fans in both countries.
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Varun Anand Bhat
(106 Articles Published)