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Condemnation but no promises of action: UCI responds to Russian invasion of Ukraine

Condemnation but no promises of action: UCI responds to Russian invasion of Ukraine

The UCI has released a statement addressing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, announcing that it “is following the development of the situation in Ukraine with concern and firmly condemns the violation of international law and of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”

In its press release, published on Friday, the UCI echoed a statement made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which said on Thursday that it “condemns the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government.” The United Nations passed a resolution in December of last year calling for a global truce running from seven days prior to the start of the Olympic Games through seven days after the end of the Paralympic Games.

The UCI said that “it calls for an immediate halt to hostilities and considers that the only way forward is through diplomatic channels,” and that its “thoughts are with the Ukrainian people as well as Ukraine’s cycling community, which it assures has its full support and affection.”

The organization said that it has raised the flag of Ukraine outside of its headquarters in Switzerland “as a sign of solidarity to the innocent civilians faced with this terrible conflict.”

It was unclear, however, whether the UCI would take any action against Russian participation within the sport of cycling. According to the statement, “no UCI event is scheduled to take place in Russia or Belarus in 2022,” but two track races and a gran fondo in Russia remain on the UCI’s calendar for 2022. The status of those events was not addressed further in the UCI’s press release; CyclingTips has reached out to the governing body for clarification.

In the hours before the UCI’s statement was released on Friday, Ukrainian pro Anatoliy Budyak (Terengganu Polygon) rode to victory on stage 6 of the Tour du Rwanda, dedicating his result to “all the Ukrainian people” and calling on “the authorities and people of Russia” to “please stop the war!!!” Meanwhile, at the UAE Tour, stage 6 went to breakaway rider Mathias Vacek of Gazprom-RusVelo, whose sponsor Gazprom is majority-owned by the Russian state and is one of the country’s largest companies.

Sporting authorities across the globe are beginning to respond to the Russian invasion. Russian sponsor Uralkali was removed from the livery of Haas’ F1 car during testing this week, German football team FC Schalke 04 announced on Thursday that it is removing Gazprom’s logo from its jerseys, and UEFA has moved the men’s Champions League final, scheduled for May, from St. Petersburg to Paris, among other moves.

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