The announcement came during the International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) ongoing congress in China.
I find it extremely worrying, says Helene Johage.
The war in Ukraine is still going on, Johage continues. She is following the congress digitally from Sweden.
Active on the battlefield
According to the AFP news agency, weightlifting is the first Olympic sport to award Russia a world championship since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
I usually quote the old Olympic slogan: "During the Olympics, all wars end", but that doesn't work that way in the world anymore. Unfortunately, it's much more serious than that. We have active-duty troops from Ukraine who are out on the battlefield, doing their part," says Johage.
"I don't think you can just suddenly let go of this. I'm actually a little shocked," she continues.
This summer, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics regardless of their political stance.
The IOC recommended that all international federations relax the restrictions, but the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) and the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) have strongly questioned the recommendation.
We follow the RF's and SOK's line, says Helene Johage.
Following the IOC announcement, the IWF lifted all restrictions on weightlifters from both countries. Earlier in the year, youth and junior athletes had been allowed to compete in the heats.
Johage says Sweden has received an offer to host the European Weightlifting Championships, but the federation has declined because Russians are allowed to compete.
We cannot justify applying for visas for Russian lifters, says Helene Johage.
“Get caught in a trap”
She is particularly concerned about Swedish talent Joen Vikingsson Sjöblom, who is part of the SOK's top and talent program. A major goal is for the 23-year-old to reach the Olympics in the future - for example, in 2032.
Then we will end up in a trap. This would require him to go to Moscow in 2030 and compete, while the war may continue. I dare not think about that situation, says Helene Johage.
Sweden's Minister of Sports Jakob Forssmed (KD) has reacted strongly to the news.
"Shameful of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to be the first Olympic sport to give Russia the World Championships. The decision is a total moral collapse: The war of aggression continues unabated, and Ukrainian athletes continue to be killed," he writes on X.
What do you think?