CAS Says IIHF Knew the Consequences of Russia’s Appeal in Hockey Ban Dispute

In a statement, CAS said it was aware of “the divided opinions that have arisen” following its decision on Friday, October 30. The Court of Arbitration for Sport stressed that it “is an independent body for resolving disputes in sport”. Decisions in disputes are made “solely on the basis of the arguments and evidence presented by the parties” involved.

The security aspect

CAS was not examining whether Russia should continue to be suspended because of its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, but rather the IIHF’s arguments concerning security, safety and other circumstances. The IIHF has banned Russian national teams from its championships since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 on these grounds.

“The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) expresses its disappointment with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),” the IIHF said after CAS’s decision.

It also wrote: “The IIHF disagrees with the decision and maintains that our decision was necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants in the tournaments.”

Insufficient evidence

CAS now says that it was examining “whether the IIHF’s decision not to reinstate Russian teams in competition was consistent with the IIHF’s current statutes and regulations.” CAS found that “the IIHF had not presented sufficient evidence” to justify continuing to exclude Russia.