Germany Denies Fencing World Cup Hosting Rights to Russia

Moscow, March 16 – The German Fencing Federation (DFB) has announced on its official website that it will refuse to host the Women’s Fencing World Cup in protest of the entry of athletes from Russia and Belarus into the competition.

The Congress of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided on March 10 to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions. The head of the Russian Fencing Federation (FFR) Elgar Mammadov told the News Agency that this decision was taken by a majority vote.

“The decision of the FIE congress to once again allow the participation of Russia and Belarus caused heated discussions inside the country and abroad. The World Cup will be one of the first matches in which this decision must be implemented. Now we want to send a signal,” said the DFB presidency. It is clear that we would like a different result and that we still see many open questions about the implementation of the FIFA decision that makes the tournament impossible.” President of the German Football Association Claudia Böckel.

The World Cup was scheduled to take place in Tauberbischofsheim in May.

The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on January 25 called for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral position, while proposing that athletes who actively supported the special operation not be allowed into Ukraine.