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Putin says countries resisting Russia’s return to world sport are violating democratic bodies
President Vladimir Putin has accused countries resisting Russia’s return to international sport of violating Russian athletes’ rights and undermining democratic institutions. His comments follow a sports court ruling that allows Russian teams back into international ice hockey, despite several countries saying they will not play against them.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport last week upheld Russia’s appeal against a ban on its teams for the 2026–27 season. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and the Czech Republic have said they will refuse to play Russia; Canada has also barred Russia and Belarus from next month’s World Junior Championship in Alberta. The International Olympic Committee and sports bodies imposed restrictions after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of Russia’s Olympic Committee in July.
In short
- Putin says resistance to Russia’s return violates democratic principles.
- CAS cleared Russian ice hockey teams to compete in 2026–27.
- Several countries refuse to play Russia, citing the invasion and safety concerns.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of Russia’s return can argue that athletes should not be collectively punished for their government’s actions, and that access to competition should depend on clear, consistently applied rules. They may also say that national federations should respect the sports court’s ruling and that selective refusals risk politicising sport and weakening the authority of its governing institutions.
The case against
Those favouring continued restrictions can argue that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an ongoing breach of international norms, and that restoring national teams could be seen as normalising the war or exposing competitors to politically charged events. They may also maintain that countries and sports bodies have a legitimate choice not to participate, particularly where doing so reflects security concerns, solidarity with Ukraine or the need to uphold their own values.