IJF suspends Putin as its honorary president
Budapest, Feb 27: Vladimir Putin temporarily lost his most senior official position in world sports on Sunday. The International Judo Federation (IJF) cited “the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine” for suspending Putin’s honorary president status. The Russian president is a keen judoka and attended the sport at the 2012 London Olympics. The IJF is rare among Olympic sports bodies for using the word “war” to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ordered by Putin on Thursday. A Kremlin-supporting oligarch and longtime friend of Putin, Arkady Rotenberg, remains on the IJF executive committee as “development manager.” (AP)
Czechs join Poland, Sweden in refusing to play against Russia
Prague, Feb 27: The Czech Republic joined Poland and Sweden on Sunday in rejecting the to play Russia in the 2022 World Cup qualifying next month in response to that nation’s invasion of Ukraine. The Czech football association’s executive committee said it “unanimously approved a decision that the Czech national team will not in any case play Russia.” Poland and Sweden made the same decision on Saturday. The Czech Republic is a potential opponent of Russia in next month’s playoffs.