Russians are sending military world champions to the Judo World Championships

The world championships in Vladimir Putin’s favorite sport, judo, begin in Doha on Sunday. Since the IOC recently said that it should let the individual professional associations decide on the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes, the sport whose world association (IJF) had Putin as honorary president until the outbreak of war, has a symbolic role to play. In order not to admit participants who support the war of aggression in Ukraine or are connected to the army or national defense, the IJF carried out background checks.

On Wednesday it became known that eight members of the Russian delegation were denied participation in the World Cup for this reason, no further details were given. However, yesterday’s start list showed 19 athletes starting under a neutral flag. The list is notable because it includes Inal Tasoev, the winner of the Fall 2021 Military World Championships. Four other Russian medalists from this tournament compete as “neutral athletes”.

According to Ukrainian sources, ten more belong to the Russian armed forces, the National Guard or the Central Army Club CSKA. According to the IJF representation, these should be employees of the national training center. Ukraine withdrew their starters from the World Cup.

Austria starts the tournament with nine players and high ambitions. “Demands have increased. We want two medals and that’s quite realistic,” says national coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch.