World Curling Federation moves to bar Russia from women's tourney in B.C.
Amended rules to allow for removal of team if its presence would 'damage the event'
The World Curling Federation intends to boot Russia from upcoming world curling championships, including the women's tournament in Prince George, B.C.
"The World Curling Federation strongly condemns the military action undertaken by the Russian government in their invasion of Ukraine and continues to hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the situation," the WCF said Monday in a statement.
Russia is among the 13 countries in the field for the women's world championship March 19-27 at Prince George's CN Centre. Russia had yet to declare its representative.
The WCF amended its rules Monday to allow for a team's removal from any event if the board deems that team's presence "would damage the event or put the safety of the participants or the good order of the event at risk."
Member associations have three days to voice their objections to the rule change, the WCF said.
"Should there be no objections, then at the conclusion of the three-day evaluation window, the World Curling Federation will then begin the process of removing the Russian Curling Federation entries from the upcoming world championships," the statement said.
If more than 10 per cent of member associations object to the rule change, it will not be implemented immediately, but instead referred to the WCF's next general assembly.
Curling Canada strongly endorsed Monday's announcement by the WCF and urged fellow member nations to offer their support to WCF and recent announcement of the 2022 European curling championships being moved from Perm, Russia.
"The invasion of Ukraine, a democracy, and an important member of our World Curling Membership, must be met with swift and assertive sanctions that makes a strong statement of our collective values, our ethical stance, and, first and foremost, demonstrates concern for the safety and the freedoms of the people of Ukraine," read Curling Canada's statement.
"We also urge the WCF to continue working toward addressing longstanding, serious concerns that we and other member nations have raised about the culture of sport in Russia. These concerns must be dealt with in order to ensure a level playing field for all athletes, and to remain true to the Spirit of Curling."
The International Olympic Committee urged international sport federations Monday to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from competition in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the assistance Belarus has given Russia to do so.
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With files from CBC Sports
