The Arbitration Court of the International Luge Federation (FIL) has granted the appeal of the Russian Luge Federation and overturned the decision of the FIL Executive Committee on the temporary suspension of Russian athletes, coaches, specialists, and judges from participating in competitions under the auspices of the FIL, as well as on the prohibition of international events on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Executive Committee of the International Luge Federation announced sanctions against the Russian Luge Federation on March 2. On March 22, the Russian lugers appealed this decision to the FIL Arbitration Court.
Following the results of the hearings held on April 7, the arbitrators decided that the resolution of the FIL executive committee was canceled in terms of the ban on Russia to host events under the auspices of the international federation; the suspension of all Russian athletes, coaches and officials from participating in competitions held by the FIL; the suspension of the powers of Russians who held positions in various commissions and committees of the federation.
In the decision of the FIL Arbitration Court, it is reported that the International Luge Federation, according to the charter of the organization, had no grounds for imposing sanctions against the Russian Luge Federation.
The arbitrators noted that the sanctions adopted against Russian athletes, coaches, officials and Russians who are members of the commissions and working groups of the international federation were based only on their citizenship and are a manifestation of prohibited political discrimination.
The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation welcomed the court’s decision.
“The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation welcomes the decision of the FIL Arbitration Court, and also believes that all sanctions applied by international organizations to all-Russian sports federations are discriminatory and politically motivated. For its part, the Ministry of Sports of Russia will continue to provide the federations with the necessary support in protecting their rights and interests,” the message states.
Ru-Main, 08.04.2022
Source: Interfax
