The key facts

  • The FFHG unanimously withdrew the French national team from the World Championship in Mexico City
  • The tournament is held independently of the IIHF; the Russia — France match was scheduled for December 10
  • On October 30, CAS overturned the IIHF's decision to suspend Russia

The French federation's decision

The French Ice Hockey Federation (FFHG) has withdrawn its national team from the World Sledge Hockey Championship, which will be held in Mexico City from December 8 to 13. As reported Gazeta.Ru citing the FFHG press service, the organization's governing council unanimously adopted this decision because the Russian national team is set to take part in the tournament. The match between Russia and France was scheduled for December 10.

Context: the return of Russian teams

The FFHG statement emphasized that the championship in Mexico City is being held independently of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The reason for the Russian team's participation was a recent arbitration ruling: on October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport fully upheld the appeal of the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia and overturned the IIHF's suspension decision. The IIHF stated at the time that it would urgently assess the steps and the time needed to implement the ruling and address its operational consequences. Earlier, on July 7, the International Olympic Committee temporarily lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and recommended that federations remove restrictions on Russian athletes. Thus, the French federation's refusal became the first reaction from a national team to the return of Russians specifically within a tournament held outside the IIHF system; neither the tournament fate of the Russian national team after France's withdrawal nor the position of other championship participants is disclosed in the sources.