The move, criticized by some Ukrainian athletes, was made in response to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) controversial decision to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals, despite Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, where the Kremlin launched its deadly “special military operation” in February last year, with ally Belarus serving as a staging ground for troops.
Ukraine had warned its sports federations that they would be stripped of their governing body status if their athletes competed with Russians and Belarusians on the international stage.
Although the IOC had sanctioned Russia and Belarus, it recently recommended that their athletes be permitted to compete as neutrals in international events, including next year's Summer Olympics in Paris.
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Source: IAR