The Ukrainian government has barred its national sports teams from competing at international events which also include athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus.
The decree published by the Ministry of Youth and Sports follows opposition from Ukraine to efforts by the International Olympic Committee to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian competitors into events as neutrals without national symbols.
It could pressure global sports bodies to choose between admitting Russians and Belarusians or risking a Ukrainian boycott. After Ukraine signaled last month it would seek to block its athletes from competing against Russians and Belarusians, the IOC said any such move would “hurt only the Ukrainian athlete community.” The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
It was also unclear how the measure might affect men's soccer amid ongoing qualification for next year's European Championship. European soccer body UEFA allows Belarus to compete, but not Russia. Ukraine and Belarus are playing in different qualifying groups and cannot be drawn together in the playoffs.
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