Badminton keeps barring Russia as Olympic qualifying begins
Badminton has upheld its ban on Russian and Belarusian players in international competitions on the eve of the start of Olympic qualifying
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Badminton upheld its ban on Russian and Belarusian players in international competitions on Thursday, days before Olympic qualifying begins.
Badminton’s qualifying period for next year’s Paris Olympics starts on May 1 and uses a calendar-year ranking.
Meanwhile, modern pentathlon said it would set up a “pathway” for athletes from the two countries to return but didn't commit to a date.
The Badminton World Federation cited security concerns and the need for “more clarity” on the International Olympic Committee's “complex criteria” to admit some Russians and Belarusians as neutral athletes without national symbols but keep excluding others, such as military personnel or those who have supported the invasion of Ukraine.
