According to the IIHF website, the suspension has been extended until the end of the 2023/2024 season. The organization believes that the return of Russians and Belarusians is “not certain”.
The organization said in a statement that the IIHF Council has examined the security risks of returning national teams and clubs from these countries to international competition and has concluded that it is not safe.
“After analyzing the situation, we came to the conclusion that it is too early to reintegrate Russia and Belarus into our competitions. We ask the coordinating committee to submit a proposal to resolve the reintegration process in March 2024 not only in our competitions. , but also in the qualifying round of the 2026 Olympic Games, which will start in the summer of 2024,” TASS quoted IIHF chief Luc Tardif as saying.
In February last year, the International Ice Hockey Federation decided to withdraw the national teams of Russia and Belarus, as well as clubs from these countries, from international competitions.
