Estonia has joined Norway, Finland and Canada in restricting Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing on its territory over the ongoing war in Ukraine.\n<\/p>\n
The move comes amid growing opposition to the return of athletes from the two countries to international sporting competitions following the relaxation of restrictions by some governing bodies.\n<\/p>\n
According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday, the Estonian government has written to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), expressing concerns over the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions hosted by the country.\n<\/p>\n
Estonia argued that allowing the athletes into the country would undermine its support for Ukraine and provide an opportunity for Russian propaganda.<\/p>\n
The development follows a September decision by the FIS to relax its eligibility rules, allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in its events as Individual Neutral Athletes, provided they sign a declaration of neutrality.\n<\/p>\n
Previously, athletes from the two countries faced stricter background checks over any voluntary association or paid involvement with their respective militaries.\n<\/p>\n
Although the revised policy permits participation in individual events, athletes are prohibited from displaying national symbols, including flags, anthems and uniforms.<\/p>\n
Reacting to the situation, the FIS said it remained committed to supporting athletes, national skiing associations and local organisers as they navigate the challenges surrounding the participation of neutral athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that said, the Individual Neutral Athlete policy is clear in stating that notwithstanding eligibility, the host country visa and entry policies remain in place and are determined solely by the host country,\u201d the federation said in a statement to BBC Sport.\n<\/p>\n
It added that it bore no responsibility for visa or entry refusals involving athletes who had been granted eligibility under its neutral athlete policy.\n<\/p>\n
Norway and Finland also announced restrictions on Russian athletes on Thursday, saying they would deny them entry visas because of the war in Ukraine.\n<\/p>\n
Norway is scheduled to host the cross-country skiing World Cup next month, while Finland will stage the figure skating World Championships in March.\n<\/p>\n
The International Skating Union, however, maintained that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their governments.\n<\/p>\n
The organisation said it believed athletes should not be held responsible for political decisions made by their countries and disclosed that it was seeking clarification from Finnish authorities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Canada has informed its hockey authorities that it will not issue visas to Russian players seeking to participate in next month\u2019s World Junior Championship for as long as the war continues. <\/p>\n
The restriction also covers Russian players currently playing for teams in Canada.\n<\/p>\n
The latest developments follow a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last month to overturn the ban imposed on Russia by the International Ice Hockey Federation.\n<\/p>\n
The ruling was condemned by the British, German, Finnish and Czech hockey federations.\n<\/p>\n
Russia had been suspended from IIHF competitions since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation successfully appealed the suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.\n<\/p>\n
Despite the opposition from several countries, the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions has gained momentum this year.\n<\/p>\n
In March, athletes from both countries were allowed to compete under their national flags at the Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee partially lifted its restrictions.<\/p>\n
In July, the International Olympic Committee provisionally reinstated Russia to its competitions, stating that the ban introduced in 2023 following the invasion of Ukraine was no longer applicable.\n<\/p>\n
However, individual sporting federations retain the authority to establish their own eligibility requirements.\n<\/p>\n
While World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing have removed restrictions on Russian athletes, World Athletics has maintained its ban.\n<\/p>\n
The controversy has also extended to hosting international competitions, with Moscow last month announced as the host city for the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships.\n<\/p>\n
The decision marks the first time an Olympic sports federation has awarded Russia a global sporting event since the country\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.\n<\/p>\n
Source: <\/p>\n
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