European Fencing Confederation (EFC) has suspended athletes from Russia and Belarus, reports Inside the Games. The decision was taken at the Congress of the organization in Polish Cracow, now hosting the European Games 2023.

EFC also suspended the membership of the Fencing Federations of Russia and Belarus, whose representatives will not be able to be a member of the executive committee of the European organization.

These two proposals were made by the president of Ukrainian Fencing Federation Mikhail Ilyashev. 23 delegates voted for, and 10 voted against. In total there were 43 representatives of the federations.

Representatives of Russia and Belarus will not be able to take part in all competitions, which are held under the aegis of EFC: this includes any tournaments for the participants under the age of 23. At the same time the ban does not apply to the adult tournaments, as they are organized by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

On March 10 FIE, which is headed by the Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, became the first to allow the representatives of Russia and Belarus to participate in international tournaments.

Inside the Games notes that the EFC decision against Russia and Belarus is a kind of protest against the actions of the FIE.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the FIE after Poland did not allow Russian athletes to the European Games decided to split the Olympic qualification into two stages, moving the individual competition to another country. The tournament will take place in October.

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