Russian sport is suspended for four years due to doping. It announced the International Anti-Doping Organization Wada on Monday.
The decision included, among other things, that Russia may not arrange or seek major championships during that time period.
"Legally binding agreement"Two championships that the country planned to host are the ice hockey World Cup 2023, both for juniors and seniors. But it is doubtful whether they will get rid of these championships, despite today's message. The international hockey association chairman Rene Fasel told Russian news agency Tass last week.
- These two championships were awarded when Rusada (the Russian Anti-Doping Agency) was not suspended. Therefore, I do not see how we can legally have the right to change it, so I do not think there will be any changes. This is a legally binding agreement, he said, and continued:
- We have contracts, we have sponsors and I do not think it is possible to change this. They have already started construction in Omsk, Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg. It's a legally binding contract and when I talk to our lawyers they say they can't imagine how it could be changed.
"Long-term plan"The Swedish Ice Hockey Association Chairman Anders Larsson is a member of the IIHF Competition Committee. When SVT Sport talks to him he has not read Fasel's statements, but says he understands what Fasel means.
- We in the international ice hockey have a long-term plan. It has already been decided that we will arrange the World Cup 2025, and we are already well into that planning. So with a long-term perspective, it becomes difficult to change things, he says.
Do you think Russia will host the World Cup 2025?
- I don't want to speculate on this and this. We have just made Wada's decision, and it is not a decision that has gone all the way. It is not impossible that it will be appealed. But we will of course follow developments.
"Will be discussed"Later this week the Channel One Cup starts in Russia, with Anders Larsson and several IIHF elevators in place.
- This is certainly something that will be discussed in the corridors, says Larsson.
- But first and foremost, we will analyze what Wada's verdict means, and we will of course follow the guidelines that the International Ice Hockey Association sets out.