Russian climber Dmitri Fakirianov competing in the IFSC world cup in France last year. Photo: Jan Virt/IFSC
The ruling body of competition climbing has suspended all Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from its events.
The executive board of the International Federation of Sport Climbing also voted unanimously in favour of seeking measures to support Ukrainian climbers.
The decision to suspend climbers from Russia and Belarus was in line with recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, the IFSC said.
The federation is also suspending all competitions planned to be held in the two countries until further notice, in response to their invasion of Ukraine. These include the bouldering and speed-climbing world cup in Moscow, the youth European cup in Kaliningrad and the 2023 IFSC youth world championships.
The board also agreed to nominate replacements for all the Russian and Belarusian IFSC officials appointed to competitions in 2022.
A spokesperson for the Turin-based federation said: “Furthermore, the IFSC will discuss an additional series of measures to be approved by the upcoming general assembly in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 18 and 19 March 2022, including but not limited to: waiving the 2022 annual fee for the Ukrainian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation and the 2022 registration fee for all IFSC events – in accordance with IFSC Europe; and creating a support programme to assist the Ukrainian Climbing community.”
The IFSC added that its measures and actions are subject to change, depending on development of the situation in Ukraine.
