Canada prevents Russian athletes and officials from entering the World Junior Hockey Championship

Canada will prevent Russian athletes and officials from entering the country for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, scheduled to take place in Alberta from December 26 to January 5. The decision was announced several weeks before the tournament begins and also applies to people who already hold valid visas.

Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport, Adam van Koeverden, said the authorities oppose Russia’s and Belarus’s participation in international competitions as long as Moscow continues its war against Ukraine, with Belarus’s support. The athletes and officials will be assessed individually, and they may be denied entry for competition-related purposes.

The measure follows a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 30 stating that the International Ice Hockey Federation must admit Russian teams to five championships, beginning with the World Junior Championship. The IIHF said it disagreed with the ruling.

Canada says neutral athlete status can be granted only to individual athletes, not to a Russian team. Belarus will not take part in the competition following a separate IIHF decision. The international federation and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation did not immediately comment on the announcement.