Ban on competitors from Russia and Belarus lifted by FIA last weekUkraine says decision came as a ‘complete surprise’<\/p>\n
Aug 18 (Reuters) – Ukraine has urged motorsport’s world \u200bgoverning body to reconsider lifting a ban on competitors from Russia and Belarus in \u200cinternational events.<\/p>\n
The ban on participants from the two countries competing with their own flags and anthems, in place since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, was lifted by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) last week.<\/p>\n
Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n The BBC reported Ukraine’s Minister of Youth \u200band Sports had written to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem requesting the decision be reconsidered.<\/p>\n Ukraine’s \u200bAutomobile Federation said in a statement the FIA move had “come as a complete \u2060surprise”.<\/p>\n An FIA spokesperson said on Tuesday the requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, teams and officials \u200bhad been updated following a vote by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.<\/p>\n “This follows an announcement by \u200bthe IOC (International Olympic Committee) on 7th July and similar updates issued by other international sporting federations,” the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n “The FIA maintains its ban on organising events and competitions in Russia and Belarus. The FIA continues to monitor the situation \u200bclosely in Ukraine and reserves the right to update its position in the future.”<\/p>\n Russia, which once \u200bhosted a regular round of the Formula One championship in Sochi, has not hosted a grand prix since 2021.<\/p>\n The \u200clast Russian \u2060driver in Formula One was Nikita Mazepin, whose contract was terminated by U.S.-owned Haas in 2022 and who has since competed in the Middle East under a neutral flag.<\/p>\n The IOC last month provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, a step seen as bringing Russia closer to reintegration into \u200bthe Olympic movement ahead \u200bof the Los Angeles \u2060Games.<\/p>\n The FIA, the governing body for Formula One, F2, F3, Formula E and the World Rally Championship as well as other international series, was awarded \u200bfull recognition status by the IOC in 2013.<\/p>\n Boris Rotenberg, president of the \u200bRussian Automobile Federation (RAF), \u2060hailed an important day for Russian motorsport when the FIA’s decision was announced.<\/p>\n “Sport and culture should be out of politics — they are the ones that unite peoples,” said the oligarch, who remains on the European \u2060Union\u2019s sanctions \u200blist and is a close associate of Russian President Vladimir \u200bPutin, in a statement on the RAF website., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n “Justice has triumphed. We are grateful to the International Automobile Federation for the constructive dialogue \u200band are ready to jointly resolve all pressing issues.”<\/p>\n (This story has been corrected to remove reference to the letter after FIA clarification, in paragraph 5)<\/p>\n Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n
\nEditing by Christian Radnedge<\/p>\n