Lagatar24 Desk
Budapest, Feb 27: The Russian President Vladimir Putin has been suspended as the honorary president of the International Judo Federation (IJF), the sport’s governing body announced on Sunday, because of his invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion by land, air, and sea on Thursday had followed a declaration of war by Putin. A judo blackbelt, the 69-year-old is a keen practitioner of the discipline and has co-authored a book titled “Judo: History, Theory, Practice”.
“In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Mr Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation,” the IJF said in a statement.
The IJF on Friday said it had cancelled a May 20-22 event in Russia.
“The International Judo Federation announces with regret the cancellation of the 2022 Grand Slam in Kazan, Russia,” IJF President Marius Vizer said.
Putin is a black belt in Judo, and has sparred with Olympians in the past in friendly games. Putin has long cultivated a tough-guy image and has previously been shown on TV playing ice hockey, handling an Amur tiger, riding a horse, and diving to the bottom of the Black Sea.
Russia has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 23. Some cities are either blocked or captured. Western nations have imposed tough sanctions against the Russian Federation, but they have refused to fight in Ukraine.
