The Danish and French fencing federations are refraining from hosting international competitions in protest against the re-admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus.
His association could “do not support the return of Russian and Belarusian fencers to the rinks under the current circumstances”Danish association president Jan Sylvest Jensen told the AFP news agency.
The Trekanten International, a precursor to the World Cup, was scheduled for October 7th and 8th in Copenhagen, Denmark. The French federation returned the Epee World Cup in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses (May 19-21).
The German Fencing Federation (DFeB) had already decided in mid-March not to host the Women’s Foil World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim in May.
World association admits Russians and Belarusians
Even before the IOC decision, the world association FIE had decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes again from April and thus to the Olympic qualification, despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the support of Belarus.
On Tuesday (March 28th, 2023), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that the professional associations allow athletes from the two countries to participate in international competitions again under certain conditions.
Danish association expects chaos
The Danish association also assumes that there will be problems in international competitions. “We also expect that there will be chaos in international competitions as fencers will probably refuse to compete against Russian and Belarusian fencers”Sylvest Jensen wrote in his statement.