Carney says Russia will not compete at World Juniors after court ruling

Summary

On October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Russia's appeal against the International Ice Hockey Federation's ban, which had run since February 2022. The court said the federation had not proven that Russian teams posed a security risk, so the exclusion was overturned. Hockey federations in Finland, Czechia and Latvia then said their teams would refuse to face Russia.

Ottawa answered with its border rather than a hockey rule. On Tuesday, Mark Carney told reporters at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua that the Russians will not be there, saying Russia and Belarus are supporting the war in Ukraine. The government said it would use immigration powers to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials out when they compete under their national symbols, while neutral athletes may still be permitted. Because no federal funding had been committed to the tournament, the usual funding rule gave Ottawa nothing to grip.

Vladimir Putin called Western restrictions a gross violation of the law. The video argues the ruling left open whether Russians could compete under a neutral flag, and Ottawa acted in that gap. The pressure continues in Germany, where Skoda, Strauss and Nokian Tyres threaten to pull out of the 2027 men's World Championship if Russia takes part.

Key points

• Russia and Belarus have been banned by the IIHF since February 2022, four full seasons.
• The CAS upheld Russia's appeal on October 30th, ruling the security risk was not proven.
• No federal funding was committed to the tournament, so Ottawa used immigration powers instead.
• Neutral athletes may still be permitted; the ban targets the Russian flag and anthem.
• Russia has not won a World Junior gold medal since 2011.
• Senior men's world titles: Canada 28, Russia and the Soviet Union 27.

Questions answered