Germany cancels World Cup event after Russia, Belarus readmitted

17/3/2023 17:45

        Germany's fencing federation has cancelled a women's foil World Cup event after the sport's global governing body (FIE) reversed a ban on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus, it said on Thursday.
        
        Athletes from the two countries were banned from many international competitions after Russia invaded Ukraine last February in what Moscow calls a "special military operation".
        
        More than 60% of nations voted to allow Russians and Belarusians to resume competing in FIE events at last week's extraordinary congress.
        
        German federation (DFB) President Claudia Bokel, a team epee silver medallist at the 2004 Olympics, said the decision had triggered "heated discussions".
        The competition was scheduled for May 5-7 in Tauberbischofsheim. Fencing's qualifying process for next year's Paris Olympics is due to begin in April.
        
        Russian Fencing Federation President Ilgar Mammadov said he was not surprised by the DFB's decision.