Russia sent into Triathlon Sporting Abyss
Russia was sent into triathlon sporting abyss as World Triathlon yesterday, threw them out amid a wholesale ban from international competition of all Russia and Belarusian athletes and officials.
In Putin’s Russia, sport is a vital instrument of statecraft. With sporting victory comes priceless political value, an opportunity for Russia to curate the image of an indestructible land ruled by an all-knowing leader. Sport now has an equally vital part to play in cutting Putin off at the knees.
World Triathlon are fully united behind the International Olympic Committee (IOC) calls for widespread athlete ban and are full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine.
At this point, one could question why the IOC neglected to take the drumbeat of war more seriously at the Winter Olympics with its red-carpet treatment of Putin in Beijing furnishing him the chance of an informal summit with Chinese premier Xi Jinping.
World Triathlon say “they will work with Ironman and Challenge in order for them to follow these recommendations as well”. Although Challenge Family has already cancelled their event in Moscow with saying: “Challenge Family condemns the actions of the Russian government and the violence and suffering they are inflicting on the people of Ukraine.
Ironman who are still working through the evolving guidance from the relevant governing bodies and federations is yet to cancel its inaugural event in Russia, Ironman 70.3 St Petersburg, which is due to take place on 17 July 2022.
World Triathlon has contacted all National Federations, especially those closest to Ukraine or bordering the country, as well as Europe Triathlon, to help coordinate support to Ukrainian athletes, coaches, officials and staff.
The Russian Triathlon Federation, had been previously suspended by World Triathlon in December 2021 for one year, due to the high number of doping cases where no events were permitted to take place in the country in 2022.
World Triathlon has also set up an email account (welcome@triathlon.org) which members of the triathlon community in Ukraine who are leaving or wish to leave can use to reach out and find families in other countries who may be able to host them.
