Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been banned from the multi-sport European Championships in August
Following the guidance from the International Olympic Committee, the organisers of the event in Germany said they supported decisions from the nine individual sports to not invite Russian and Belarusian officials and athletes.
Organising committee chairman Libor Varhaník said they stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people and believe it’s “inconceivable” to have Russian and Russian and Belarusian teams participate at the event.
“We are united in our condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine,”
he said.
The sports they will be banned from are canoeing, cycling, gymnastics, rowing, sport climbing, table tennis, track and field, triathlon and volleyball.
However, swimming is an exception and is trying to allow Russians to continue completing as it’s not part of the collective European Championships format that launched in 2018.
Savannah Pocock contributed to this report
