Politics · Russia · 9 hrs ago
Zakharova says Russian athletes will return to international sport
Maria Zakharova says Russian athletes will return to international competition in full, though she gave no timetable.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said global sport needs everyone involved for competitions to be genuine.
Russia and Belarus were suspended by the IIHF in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The hockey federation extended Russia’s ban from its tournaments until 2027, and Russian teams were also barred from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Several national hockey federations say they will not play Russia at the World Championship.
Russia’s hockey federation has appealed the extended ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
The appeal’s outcome is not given, and the IIHF suspension remains in place until 2027.
Maria Zakharova said the full return of Russian athletes to international sport was only a matter of time.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said people around the world wanted to see Russian athletes and real competition.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has extended its suspension of Russian teams from international tournaments until 2027.
Several national hockey federations have said they will not play against Russia at the World Championship.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed the extension of the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- Who
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russian athletes would return to international sport.
- What
- Zakharova said their full return to international competitions was only a matter of time.
- When
- November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow, according to TASS.
- Why
- Zakharova said the global majority wanted to see Russian athletes and real competition.
Maria Zakharova and supporters of Russian athletes’ return
The IIHF and national federations opposing matches against Russia
Access to international sport
Maria Zakharova and supporters of Russian athletes’ return
Zakharova said the full return of Russian athletes was only a matter of time and that people wanted to see them compete.
The IIHF and national federations opposing matches against Russia
The IIHF extended its suspension of Russian teams until 2027, while several national federations said they would not play against Russia.
The IIHF suspended Russia and Belarus from international competitions over developments in Ukraine.
IIHF President Luc Tardif told TASS that the decision to bar Russian national ice hockey teams from the 2026 Winter Olympics was made by the IOC and that the IIHF had no say in it.
The IIHF announced that Russia’s suspension from international tournaments would continue until 2027.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed the IIHF suspension extension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hockey federations from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Czech Republic said they would not play against Russia at the World Championship.
Zakharova said the full return of Russian athletes to international competitions was only a matter of time.
- Speaker
- Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
- IIHF suspension
- Extended until 2027
- Appeal
- Filed by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
- Federations opposing matches
- Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Czech Republic
- Statement date
- November 5, 2026
What people are saying
The return of our athletes in full to all international competitions is only a matter of time
they want to see our athletes, they want to see real competitions, real struggle