After Germany and France, Poland announced on Wednesday to have cancelled the fencing World Cup stage in Poznan, scheduled in April and qualifier for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, refusing the reintegration of Russian athletes, imposed by the international federation (FIE).
“We cannot organize this event following the conditions put forward by the FIE” which “has imposed on us” to receive Russian athletes, indicated to AFP the vice-president of the Polish Federation (PFSz), Adam Konopka.
“We have received an arrogant letter” from the FIE to tell us that “it is they who decide who should come and under what conditions and that we had to organize everything, including entry visas” to Poland, Konopka explained.
On Sunday, Russia had announced for its part that it would not send its fencers to Poznan in Poland this month (April 21-24) due to “unacceptable” conditions issued by Warsaw.
Poland is asking Russian and Belarusian athletes to sign a written document attesting that they do not support the war against Ukraine and that they are not employed by the army or else a security body of these countries, respecting the established criteria of neutrality.
“We will not be pushed around,” Konopka insisted.
Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from participating in international competitions following the military offensive in Ukraine last year.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) had announced in early March the reinstatement of fencers from the two countries, a first in international sport in more than a year.
This decision had drawn the ire of Kiev and some of its allies.