Estonia latest country to ban Russian athletes

Key Points:

• Estonia has announced it will not allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on its territory due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, joining Norway, Finland, and Canada in similar decisions.
• The International Ski Federation (FIS) relaxed rules in September to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals, but Estonia argues this undermines support for Ukraine and may be used for propaganda.
• Norway and Finland plan to block visas for Russian athletes ahead of major upcoming events, while the International Skating Union seeks clarification on Finland's position, emphasizing that athletes should not be punished for their governments' actions.
• The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Russia's ban from International Ice Hockey Federation events, a decision criticized by several European federations and opposed by Ukraine, while Canada has refused to issue visas for Russian players in the World Junior Championship.
• Despite controversy, Russia and Belarus have been gradually returning to international sports, with some athletes competing under national flags at the Winter Paralympics and the International Olympic Committee provisionally reinstating Russia, though some sports maintain bans.