IM, Challenge Leave Russia

Following the lead of the International Olympic Committee and World Triathlon, both Challenge Family and IRONMAN have cancelled planned events in Russia in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Late last week, Challenge cancelled its planned event in Moscow, writing in a statement that, "Challenge Family condemns the actions of the Russian government and the violence and suffering they are inflicting on the people of Ukraine. It is, of course, untenable to organise (sp) an international sporting event in Russia in the current circumstances."

This morning, IRONMAN issued a statement, not only cancelling their race planned in St. Petersburg this July, but also has issued bans to professional and age-group athletes hailing from Russia or Belarus.

Effective immediately, all Russian and Belarusian athletes are prohibited from participating in all of the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship events. Furthermore, Russian and Belarusian professional triathletes are banned from all IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events. Lastly, age group participants of non-World Championship events may not compete under the Russian or Belarusian flags. Age group athletes hailing from Russia or Belarus in those events must compete under a neutral flag, and remain ineligible for World Championship qualification.

"While we recognize the difficult situation created for Russian and Belarusian athletes by these steps, we believe these are necessary to protect the integrity of our events," the statement read.

IRONMAN also wrote that they will work directly with Ukrainian athletes with regard to their registrations for current events.