ISU Statement on Russia's war against Ukraine - Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus

[overedge]

Oklahoma City.

Corrected, thanks.

 

[Carolla5501]

Anyone coming from Russia is going to have a hard time getting there as well

Yep, you aren’t getting out of rush right now we’re trying to help a coworker get out and we’re not having much excess. He does have a green card went home for a family emergency and now can’t get out 20

US figure skating has Safe Sport and since she is named in a current doping allegation, I would hope this would also prevent her from being certified as a coach here.

Thank you very much for the laugh the concept of safe sport doing anything this fast is Hysterical. And even if they do it all they do is say well no you can’t do something until you appeal and then will let you back in because we don’t really do anything. It’s the biggest joke in the world and there’s nothing to protect an athlete

 

[manhn]

During the United States' travel bans a few years ago, there were Canadians who were detained at the border for having citizenship of one of those banned nations even though they also had their Canadian citizenship. There were Canadian detained for just having a last name that sounded like they were from one of those banned nations.

I am not sure how easy it will be for dual citizen Russians to travel.

 

[Deleted member 221]

I am not sure how easy it will be for dual citizen Russians to travel.

Depends on the other nationality and where they're trying to go.

If they're a citizen of an EU/EEA country, then they have absolute freedom to go anywhere in the EU/EEA regardless of their other (Russian) nationality. If they're a U.S. citizen, they have the constitutional right to enter the U.S., period. Generally, the same is true of the UK for UK citizens, though the UK courts have taken the view that UK citizenship may be revoked if it won't leave a person stateless. I wouldn't expect dual UK-Russian citizens to face any practical barriers, but there is precedent (e.g., Shamima Begum) for UK citizens with right to another citizenship to have their UK citizenship revoked for participating in terrorist activities.

 

[Debbie S]

Thank you very much for the laugh the concept of safe sport doing anything this fast is Hysterical. And even if they do it all they do is say well no you can’t do something until you appeal and then will let you back in because we don’t really do anything. It’s the biggest joke in the world and there’s nothing to protect an athlete

As soon as an allegation is made/case started, the coach is red-lighted and can't coach at any USFS-sanctioned event until the case is resolved. In Eteri's case, since she isn't a USFS coach, there isn't a SafeSport complaint. If she were, presumably a doping allegation would be reported to SafeSport. Also if she were being investigated for a crime....there is the Rodchenkov law that allows for those involved in doping outside the U.S. to be prosecuted in the U.S. but I think any investigation would have to be complete.

Whatever...I don't think Eteri would attempt to set up shop in the U.S. Maybe she'll set up a school in Georgia. Or Azerbaijan.

 

[ballettmaus]

I don’t think they’ll let anyone go.

I don't think they'd let any of the top skaters go but the ones who place lower at nationals? Would they hold on to them if they didn't think they were good enough by their standards?

How will these events affect the Valieva doping investigation? RUADA will do nothing and WADA can’t do anything to follow up. The team medals may forever be decided.

If Russia refuses to cooperate, they should be disqualified for that.

But I very much doubt she'd come to the US. I am sure she has better options.

Also, I am pretty sure she is not a US citizen. She was only in the US for 6 years. That's a tight timeline for citizenship.

It's doable. Once you apply for citizenship it usually happens pretty quickly.

France isn't going to grant visas to Russian nationals, so coaches could go if they can get an entry visas through a secondary passport if they have one.

The ISU statement says that members of the "ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus)" and "The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus." are prohibited from attending. I understand that to mean that coaches who hold dual citizenship/can get visas can go as private citizens but not as coaches as long as they're a member of the above.

 

[mackiecat]

I don't think they'd let any of the top skaters go but the ones who place lower at nationals? Would they hold on to them if they didn't think they were good enough by their standards?


If Russia refuses to cooperate, they should be disqualified for that.


It's doable. Once you apply for citizenship it usually happens pretty quickly.


The ISU statement says that members of the "ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus)" and "The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus." are prohibited from attending. I understand that to mean that coaches who hold dual citizenship/can get visas can go as private citizens but not as coaches as long as they're a member of the above.

Coaches in US and Canada are members of the federation.i assume Russian/Belarus coaches are also members. I think the ISU added the line about officials as technically they are representing the ISU at the competitions. I think they were preemptively closing that loophole.

Here is a thought, at least in Canada, foreign skaters register with Skate Canada ( the need to in order to train at a Skate Canada club) Does this happen in Russia? If so, anyone training at a Russian federation school could be a member of the Russian federation.

 

[Dobre]

Eteri also has US citizenship.

And we think she has a deep desire to come sit in the K&C with Moris, do we?

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

Would it be possible for Tiff and Jon to skate for Australia if Russian approval became moot?

That's actually a really interesting idea, especially since Z/G haven't competed internationally since 2021 Worlds.

In other news, I am really going to miss Galliamov and his tight costumes.

 

[hanca]

That's actually a really interesting idea, especially since Z/G haven't competed internationally since 2021 Worlds.

In other news, I am really going to miss Galliamov and his tight costumes.

But they competed at Russian nationals, so based on the rules that were announced at the beginning of this season, the Russian federation won’t release them for two years.

 

[PRlady]

But they competed at Russian nationals, so based on the rules that were announced at the beginning of this season, the Russian federation won’t release them for two years.

Only if the Federation has that power, which the ISU could remove I presume.

 

[hanca]

Only if the Federation has that power, which the ISU could remove I presume.

I don’t think the ISU has to power to intervene on behalf of the skaters who need to be released. They couldn’t do anything in the past for Iliuschetchkina, who was held by Russia for 3-4 years. They could not help Zahorski who was also held for several years. They could not help Massot…

 

[PRlady]

I don’t think the ISU has to power to intervene on behalf of the skaters who need to be released. They couldn’t do anything in the past for Iliuschetchkina, who was held by Russia for 3-4 years. They could not help Zahorski who was also held for several years. They could not help Massot…

I know all that. But if the Federation itself is defrocked, as it were, it wouldn’t have that power.

 

[Trillian]

I don’t think the ISU has to power to intervene on behalf of the skaters who need to be released. They couldn’t do anything in the past for Iliuschetchkina, who was held by Russia for 3-4 years. They could not help Zahorski who was also held for several years. They could not help Massot…

From looking at the policy (Rule 109), it does appear to include a ”special circumstances” clause that would allow the ISU to waive the release requirement - if I’m reading it correctly. I don’t know much about the history of these rules, but I have to assume they’d only want to waive requirements in truly extraordinary situations because it could otherwise be perceived as preferential treatment for one federation or another. I guess in theory, this might be one of the few situations a clause like that would ever be invoked. But we’ll see if it actually comes up.

 

[jlai]

I understand the reasoning and action, but my heart breaks for the Russian junior and senior skaters, their families and coaches who had nothing whatsoever to do with the actions of their government. Some may well have family members in the military since it is mostly a conscripted army. Those who live in major cities are as fearful of a nuclear attack as the west because if missiles start firing, they are targets. I don't have polite words for posters gleefully cheering this action for selfish reasons that their favorite skaters might be medalists as a consequence. So, I'll just say nothing more.

Considering there is a war going on, not sure whether this is a good time to focus on the loss of a few medals.

The economic sanctions are way tougher than the sport sanctions which actually affect normal folks’ lives. And the Ukrainian skaters who now have to worry about their lives and their loved ones.

As for worlds I do hope this spreads the wealth for deserving skaters who haven’t medaled at worlds before like Kaori or You or maybe the Italians in ice dancing. I do feel pairs will not be the same without the Russians however

 

[kwanfan1818]

I don’t think the ISU has to power to intervene on behalf of the skaters who need to be released

The ISU Council has the power and always has. They've just never used it.

From Rule 109:

5. Waiver of Requirements
If special circumstances so warrant the Council may waive the citizenship/residency or the permit requirement and/or the waiting periods according to paragraphs 2.a) and c) above.
In exceptional cases the Council itself may enter a Competitor for a specific event. A Competitor entered by the ISU does not count in the quota of the country of his citizenship or residence.

 

[moebius]

Worlds will certainly not be the same without the Russians. Suddenly pairs and ladies skaters who most likely will not be on podium will have a shot. Here's hoping for a Japanese/Asian sweep in ladies and pairs.

 

[Karen-W]

Worlds will certainly not be the same without the Russians. Suddenly pairs and ladies skaters who most likely will not be on podium will have a shot. Here's hoping for a Japanese/Asian sweep in ladies and pairs.

What? No support for Loena Hendrickx or the US pairs?

 

[MsZem]

Time for the long awaited IAM sweep if it does happen.

Raise your hand if you'd like Guignard/Fabbri to play spoiler to that.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Raise your hand if you'd like Guignard/Fabbri to play spoiler to that.

If someone is going to play spoiler to that, I’d like for it to be Paul & Piper.

 

[airgelaal]

What? No support for Loena Hendrickx or the US pairs?

Loena

 

[Gris]

That would be a shame if Liu's ankle is in poor enough shape that he can't make it to Worlds. No way are Chen/Sun competitive for top 10 the way Wang/Liu are. It is a lot easier to keep 2 spots once you earn them than it is to get them in the first place (says someone who well remembers the dark, dark days of US ice dance when we only had 1 team every year).

Sorry for the mistake - the surgery he's going to have is to remove the screws in his hand, not ankle. I stand corrected.

And I agree about the spots. However I expect several top teams to retire or take a break so maybe W/L can earn 2 spots at Worlds 2023.

 

[hanca]

The ISU Council has the power and always has. They've just never used it.

From Rule 109:

But what you copied only says that ISU can forgive the compulsory year off competition the skaters have to sit. It doesn’t really say that the ISU have right to release skaters when their own federation is refusing to release them. That’s two different things.

 

[skatingguy]

But what you copied only says that ISU can forgive the compulsory year off competition the skaters have to sit. It doesn’t really say that the ISU have right to release skaters when their own federation is refusing to release them. That’s two different things.

It does because it says that the ISU Council can wave the permit requirement. The permit requirement is what we commonly refer to as being released by the previous federation.

 

[jlai]

Raise your hand if you'd like Guignard/Fabbri to play spoiler to that.

They have lost the political game in ice dancing so many times I would like them to have a medal. Hoping for a medal for Loena too. I would be cool if ladies are rewarded for power and edges and speed again

 

[hanca]

It does because it says that the ISU Council can wave the permit requirement. The permit requirement is what we commonly refer to as being released by the previous federation.

If you are right, it would be hilarious if Russian top ladies, pairs, men and dancers all switched the countries they compete for. I think that would hurt Russia a lot! (The only problem is that their families would be still living in Russia and Russia may make them pay for that. Accidents happening, such as accidentally falling out of window, or accidentally dying in car accidents… or just openly sending them to prison, to send out a message. Not worth risking that I think.)

 

[olympic]

RUS / BLR absence won't affect the Men's competition at Worlds. SinKats should have at best been a medal threat in Ice Dance. Of course, it will be felt in Women and Pairs, but in re to Women, if Eteri's skaters were doping, then were they legitimately the best?

 

[allezfred]

To be honest, apart from pairs, I don’t think Worlds rosters look that bad.

 

[skatingguy]

To be honest, apart from pairs, I don’t think Worlds rosters look that bad.

Post Olympic World Championships are often missing a number of big names - the reason is different this year, and no one is happy about it, but it will make for interesting competitions.

 

[PRlady]

To be honest, apart from pairs, I don’t think Worlds rosters look that bad.

Honestly, Safanova has been my cigarette break forever, Valieva shouldn’t be there for other reasons and Anna has enough hardware. I have a soft spot for Sasha and hope she’s clean but there are a lot of Putin victims and these girls are certainly not among the real sufferers.

But where’s Loena? And as much as I’ve been a long-suffering Karen fan, if she’s hurt she should let Lindsey go instead.