In a press release just published, the Challenge Family announced that it would ban all Russian and Belarusian athletes from their races. Here is the text of the press release:
English:
"Challenge Family continues to be shocked and dismayed by the war in Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those experiencing extreme suffering due to the actions of the Russian government.
The International Olympic Committee and World Triathlon have issued an explicit recommendation to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from international sporting events and Challenge Family will follow this recommendation, effectively immediately. Athletes affected will be contacted directly by the individual race organizers.
We acknowledge so many Russian and Belarusian people did not ask for this war and we admire their public protests and demands for peace, made at great personal risk to themselves. This decision was therefore anything but easy for us but we must take it to protect the integrity of global sport and to take a united stand against this violent act of war.
When peace returns and sanctions are dropped, we look forward to a time when once again all athletes are able to come together to celebrate the sport we all love so much."
German:
"The Challenge Family is shocked and saddened by the war in Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those who are suffering extreme suffering as a result of the actions taken by the Russian government.
The International Olympic Committee and World Triathlon have issued a strong recommendation to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from international sporting events, and Challenge Family will follow that recommendation with immediate effect. Affected athletes will be contacted directly by the respective race organizers.
We are aware that many Russians and Belarusians did not call for this war, and we admire their public protests and calls for peace, made at great personal risk to themselves. So this decision was anything but easy for us, but we have to make it to protect the integrity of global sport and to stand together against this violent act of war.
When peace returns and sanctions are lifted, we look forward to a time when all athletes can come together again to celebrate the sport we all love so much."
