Athletes from Russia and Belarus are facing the consequences of their countries' invasion of Ukraine.
Faced with threats of withdrawals and growing animosity in the Athletes Village, organizers of the Winter Paralympics, on March 3, expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus, ESPN noted.
The decision came less than 24 hours after the International Paralympic Committee announced it would allow Russians and Belarusians to compete when the Games open March 4but only as neutral athletes with colors, flags and other national symbols removed because of the invasion.
Also, Formula One has canceled September's Russian Grand Prix following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, ESPN reported in a separate piece. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the bosses of the 10 teams discussed the status of the race on a call and later confirmed the race, scheduled for Sept. 25, will not happen. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said he would boycott the event if it went ahead.
In addition, the international governing bodies for ice hockey and soccer announced they have banned all of Russia's national and club teams from participating in their events "until further notice," according to USA Today. The bans could knock Russia's men's hockey team out of the world championships in May and its men's soccer team out of the World Cup later this year.
The International Skating Union, International Ski Federation and World Curling Federation each announced they will prohibit Russian athletes from their events. This means, among other things, that Russian figure skatersincluding controversial Olympian Kamila Valievawill be barred from competing at the world championships in France later this month.
The National Hockey League announced it has suspended its partnerships with Russian businesses and discontinued "any consideration of Russia as a location for any future competitions involving the NHL."