The Ukrainian Judo Federation announced Monday it will boycott this month's world championships in Doha over the International Judo Federation's decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under a neutral banner.
Around 20 athletes from Russia and Belarus have been entered for the May 7-14 championships, which serve as a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The two countries have been excluded from international competition over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been supported by Belarus, but the International Olympic Committee recently recommended readmitting their athletes as neutrals, provided they do not have military ties or voice support for the war.
The Ukrainian federation claims that a majority of the Russian judo team are active duty military personnel.
"We do not see here neutrality, equal conditions and a 'bridge to peace,' as stated in the IJF resolution on the participation of Russian and Belarusian teams in the world championships in Doha," the Ukrainian body said.
Ukrainian judoka Daria Bilodid, who won women's 48-kilogram bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, blasted the decision to admit Russian athletes to the world championships.
"I think that it is unacceptable to allow military personnel of a terrorist country who every day kills Ukrainians to participate in international competitions. This is not at all about sports values," Bilodid wrote on Instagram.
The IJF on Saturday announced it would admit Russian and Belarusian judoka to its competitions as "individual neutral athletes" provided they passed background checks, including inspection of their social media for "war propaganda."
It said the decision "allows the possibility for fair participation and equal chances to all judo athletes who are pursuing their Olympic dream."
