Ukraine condemns CAS ruling overturning Russia’s international ice hockey ban

Ukraine’s ice hockey federation has condemned a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling overturning Russia’s exclusion from International Ice Hockey Federation competitions. BBC Sport reported on Friday that the decision opens the way for Russian teams to return in the 2026-27 season, including the men’s and women’s world championships, although arrangements for their participation remain unresolved.

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Russia has been barred from IIHF events since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. After the IIHF decided earlier this year to maintain that exclusion, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed. CAS upheld the appeal following an in-person hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland. According to the BBC report, the court found insufficient evidence to support the IIHF’s arguments concerning safety, security and other issues.

The Hockey Federation of Ukraine said it respected the court’s authority but strongly objected to the outcome. It argued that the threats underlying the original exclusion had not gone away. The decision comes after Ukraine’s men earned promotion at this year’s Division 1 tournament in Poland, securing a place in the top division of the world championships for the first time in 20 years.

The IIHF also expressed disappointment and said its measures had been intended to protect participants and the integrity of its competitions. While committing to comply with the ruling, it maintained that its concerns remained. The federation did not confirm to the BBC which team’s place Russia might take, and warned that the decision affected events already well advanced in their preparations, with practical changes that could not be made immediately.

Germany, which is due to stage the men’s world championships in May, was among the federations opposing Russia’s return. German federation chairman Frank Lutz cited security, political and economic consequences for the hosts and said the ruling was being assessed with the IIHF. Finnish and Czech officials also condemned the decision. Ice Hockey UK said it would examine the implications for Great Britain’s national teams while respecting CAS’s authority.

The Russian federation welcomed the outcome and said it would work with the IIHF on bringing its teams back into competition. The ruling therefore establishes a path toward Russia’s return, but the IIHF’s response leaves the composition and practical organisation of the affected tournaments unsettled. No replacement arrangements were confirmed in the BBC’s report.