Full list of sports and competitions that have cut ties with Russia over Putin's invasion

ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott assesses the impact of the multiple bans


Russia has, in effect, been cut out of the sports world over President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

The Olympic and Paralympic committees, Fifa and Formula 1 are among the biggest organisations to exclude Russia from their sports, with the country banned from competing at the football World Cup, from hosting the Sochi Grand Prix and from competing at the Beijing Paralympics.

A whole host of smaller sports have also distanced themselves from Russia and Putin. World Taekwondo hit martial arts fan Putin personally by stripping him of the honourary 9th dan black belt it awarded him in 2013.

Meanwhile, sports federations and event organisers have been told by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to participate in international competitions after Putin ordered military troops into Ukraine.

Both have urged all sports to relocate or cancel any events planned to be held in Russia or Belarus, meaning the list of sports is likely to continue growing.

Here's a list of the latest developments in relation to Russia and Ukraine:

  • Winter Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from participating in the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games, after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed its decision less than 24 hours after announcing they could compete as neutrals.

The IPC’s announcement that the athletes would be allowed to participate, but would not be able to represent their countries and wouldn't be included in the medals table, was met with criticism and the threat of a widespread boycott.

President of the governing body, Andrew Parsons, said the "rapidly escalating situation" had left the governing body in an "impossible position" and banned the athletes just one day before the start of the Games.

He said "no one is happy with the decision" but that "war was brought to these Games" and that the situation in athletes village had become "untenable" amid safety concerns.


"You are victims of your governments' actions" - Andrew Parsons, of the IPC, announces its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paralympics

  • Everton FC

English football club Everton FC, which has been financed in part by Russian money, said it had suspended sponsorship arrangements with a number of Russian firms.

The club said in a statement: "Everyone at Everton remains shocked and saddened by the appalling events unfolding in Ukraine.

"This tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided."

It added: "The club can confirm that it has suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsorship arrangements with the Russian companies USM, Megafon and Yota."

  • Tennis

Russian and Belarusian tennis players will be allowed to continue competing under a neutral flag but both countries have been barred from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Tennis’ governing bodies have stopped short of following other sports by preventing athletes from both countries competing following the invasion of Ukraine.

But players, including new men’s world number one Daniil Medvedev, must compete under a neutral flag until further notice and the Russian and Belarus Tennis Federations have both been suspended by the International Tennis Federation.

That means, as things stand, Russian teams will not be able to defend their Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup titles later this year, while Belarus’ Davis Cup play-off against Mexico – scheduled for this weekend – will not take place.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin Cup, a joint WTA and ATP tournament due to be held in Moscow in October, has been suspended.

  • Formula 1

The sport’s governing body confirmed Russian and Belarusian drivers will not be banned from competition but they can only participate in international competitions in a neutral capacity and under the FIA flag until further notice.

  • Athletics

All athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia and Belarus – which is assisting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – are barred from World Athletics Series events including this summer’s World Championships in Eugene.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “Anyone who knows me will understand that imposing sanctions on athletes because of the actions of their government goes against the grain.

“I have railed against the practice of politicians targeting athletes and sport to make political points when other sectors continue about their business.

“This is different as governments, business and other international organisations have imposed sanctions and measures against Russia across all sectors. Sport has to step up and join these efforts to end this war and restore peace. We cannot and should not sit this one out.”

  • Ice skating

The sport is extremely popular in Russia so the move to exclude the country from international ice skating competitions is likely to upset Russians.

The International Skating Union, the body that runs the sport around the world, said no athletes from Russia or Belarus “shall be invited or allowed to participate” in events until further notice.

“The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country,” the ISU said in a statement.

It means 15-year-old Kamila Valieva, who was the focus of a still-unresolved doping dispute at last month’s Winter Olympics, will be excluded from the world figure skating championships in France later this month.

  • Volleyball

Russia will no longer be allowed to host the men’s world championships in August and September in 10 of its cities at the end of August.

The International Volleyball Federation said it had stripped Russia of hosting the men’s world championships and would seek another host country or countries. “It would be impossible to prepare and stage the World Championships in Russia due to the war in Ukraine,” the FIVB board said.

  • Swimming

Swimming has so far ignored the IOC recommendation to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes but Fina, the sport's governing body, said it had stripped Putin of an honour it awarded him in 2014.

Fina said it would allow Russian and Belarusian swimmers to take part “as neutrals, competing under the Fina flag and with the Fina anthem.”


Listen to the ITV News podcast What You Need To Know, for the latest expert analysis on Ukraine:

  • International football

Russia has been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions, the governing bodies have announced in a joint statement.

The suspension mean Russia’s will be excluded from the men’s World Cup qualification play-offs due to be held in March, unless there were to be a sudden improvement in the political situation.

UEFA has also suspended its partnership with Russian state-controlled gas giant Gazprom, which was worth £80 million and included sponsorship of the Champions League and Euro 2024.

  • Ice Hockey

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has suspended all Russian and Belarusian national teams and clubs from all competitions until further notice.

Russia has also lost hosting rights for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“The IIHF strongly condemns the use of military force and urges the use of diplomatic means to solve the conflict,” read an IIHF statement.

  • Womens' football

The Swiss Football Association has said its women’s team will not play Russia in July at the European Championship, as had been planned.

It said in a statement that it "condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine, which not only blatantly violates international law but also the universal values ​​of football, such as the promotion of friendly relations".

The two sides had been due to compete at Uefa's Women's Euro tournament in England on July 9, 2022.

  • Olympic sport

The British Olympic Association issued a statement calling for the removal of Russia and Belarus from all top sporting competition.

“The British Olympic Association, together with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Germany, demands the immediate exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the international sports family until further notice,” read a BOA statement.

“We call on the international sports federations to ban athletes representing Russia and Belarus from competitions for the time being and to suspend Russian and Belarusian officials from their positions.

“We stand united with the people, athletes and the Olympic family of Ukraine, following this unacceptable and unwarranted declaration of war against them.”

  • FC Schalke 04

German football club Schalke club Schalke said it had decided to end its longstanding partnership with Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom.

  • Taekwondo

On top of withdrawing Putin's honourary black belt, World Taekwondo said no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems would be displayed or played at World Taekwondo events.

It added that World Taekwondo and the European Taekwondo Union will not organise or recognise Taekwondo events in Russia and Belarus.

The body said it "strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine".

  • Manchester United

Manchester United is the latest to distance itself from Russia, announcing it had abandoned Aeroflot as a sponsor after the government banned all its aircrafts from landing on UK soil.

A spokesperson for the club said: “In light of events in Ukraine, we have withdrawn Aeroflot’s sponsorship rights.

"We share the concerns of our fans around the world and extend our sympathies to those affected."

  • Formula 1

Formula 1 announced Russia will no longer host a Grand Prix in Sochi after "watching the developments in Ukraine".

In a statement, Formula 1 said: "We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.

"On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances."

  • Champions League final

Uefa announced Russia would no longer be allowed to host the Champions League final this year, with the event to take place in France instead.

The match, which was due to be held in St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena will now be held in Paris's Stade de France in Saint-Denis, following a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee.

The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday May 28 at 9pm local time - 8pm in the UK.

The committee also ruled that Russia and Ukraine's national teams, along with clubs from either country, must play UEFA matches in neutral venues “until further notice.”

In a statement, Uefa thanked French president Emmanuel Macron for helping to move the fixture and said it would "fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement."


How much will the cancelling of major sporting events impact Putin? ITV News Sports Reporter Amy Lewis explains


  • Ballet

The Royal Opera House in London has cancelled the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet's planned summer tour in the wake of Russia's invasion.Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre and Northampton's The Royal & Derngate Theatre have axed the Russian State Ballet's tour in the wake of the Ukraine attacks.

  • Basketball's EuroLeague

Russia's top basketball teams CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg are among the top teams in Europe but a number of opposing players do not want to play against them in Russia.

Barcelona's Alex Abrines, for example, has said he "would prefer not to travel" to Russia for upcoming games against CSKA and Zenit.

In addition, Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted that she had cancelled the visas of the Belarusian Men’s Basketball Team who were due to play in Newcastle on Sunday, February 27.

She wrote: "The UK will not welcome the national sports teams of those countries who are complicit in Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine."

  • Skiing

Five World Cup skiing events due to take place in Russia have been cancelled or moved, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has said.

The sporting body said: "FIS has decided that in the interest of the safety of all participants and to maintain the integrity of the World Cup, that all remaining World Cup events scheduled to take place in Russia between now and the end of the 2021-22 season will be cancelled or moved to another location."

It added: "Participants are already on site at the two World Cup events that were planned for this weekend (Ski Cross and Aerials) and FIS is working closely with the involved stakeholders to ensure their quick return back home."

The sport is allowing Russians to compete but the Norwegian Ski Federation said they will not be allowed to participate in upcoming events in Norway.

  • Judo

The International Judo Federation has suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin as its honorary President, it announced on Sunday.

In a statement, the IJF said "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."

  • Biathlon

The International Biathlon Union has banned athletes from competing in its events on behalf of Russian and Belarus. The IBU said it "strongly condemned" Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a statement on their website.