The International Skating Union on Monday, April 25, announced a decision to extend the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from any competition held under the auspices of the organization.

In addition, the stage of the Grand Prix series in figure skating in Russia in the 2022/23 season was canceled.

This tournament has existed since 1996, in different years it was held in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Sochi.

According to media reports, the Finnish Figure Skating Federation has already expressed a desire to hold a stage in Helsinki. 

Also, the ISU Council, whose meeting was held on Sunday, considered the possibility of expelling representatives of Russian sports federations from participation in the next ISU congress and elections that will be held within its framework.

The corresponding initiative was made by 20 member countries of the council, but this was not enough to make a decision.

However, the vote on this issue will take place on the eve of the congress, which is scheduled for June 6-10.

In addition, the council may discuss it earlier, depending on the further development of the situation and new appeals.

The council also formulated a number of additions to the rules of the organization, which allow the suspension of the membership of national federations.

These amendments will also be voted on during the June Congress.

“Changes in the rules, which were mentioned earlier, are submitted to the ISU congress, where all key decisions will be made.

To approve the changes, 4/5 of those present at the congress must vote.

We have the right to participate, Russian representatives will go to the congress, ”Alexey Kravtsov, president of the Russian Skating Union, told Match TV.

Despite this small positive aspect of the decision, the overall verdict of the ISU Council was met with outrage and condemnation.

Thus, the Russian Figure Skating Federation expressed deep disappointment with the position and actions of the International Union.

“For our part, we will continue to do everything possible to protect the rights and interests of Russian athletes and all of Russian figure skating as a whole,” the organization’s official website said in a statement.

Honored coach of Russia Tatyana Tarasova reacted very emotionally to the extension of sanctions and the cancellation of the Grand Prix stage.

According to her, the ISU demonstrates “the real stupidity and helplessness” with its actions.

"I am very upset.

I'm sorry that our skaters were deprived of the opportunity to perform.

ISU break the fate of the most talented boys and girls in the world.

Such unfair decisions are killing the Russian school of figure skating.

Domestic competitions will never be able to compensate for international ones, ”Sport24 quotes a specialist.

Olympic champion Tatyana Navka, in turn, said that people who make these decisions will subsequently be ashamed of their actions.

According to her, mixing sports and politics is "below human dignity."

“The popularity of figure skating was kept at the expense of Russian and Japanese skaters.

And now everything will go downhill even more.

It's a shame that our guys are suffering, although they are not to blame for anything.

I feel sorry for them.

A very difficult stage falls on the lot of Russian figure skaters.

But do nothing.

You just need to experience it.

I am sure that the time will come when everything will be fine, ”Navka said.

Celebrated coach Elena Chaikovskaya called the cancellation of the Grand Prix stage in Russia "lawlessness" and "destruction of the sport."

But at the same time, she expressed confidence that domestic figure skating would not suffer much from such injustice.

“We will hold this tournament ourselves, but not as a Grand Prix stage, but as our competition.

And we will have the best skaters in the world.

This is a tragedy for world figure skating, but not for us.

We will work, act and show what figure skating is in Russia, ”TASS quotes the specialist.

Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Zhurova suggested that the Skating Union is under pressure, as it used to be happy to host figure skating and speed skating competitions in Russia.

According to the former athlete, sports functionaries have always been satisfied with the level of organization and the occupancy of the stands.

“Definitely, the whole world figure skating will lose from these decisions.

The level of women's skating in Russia has risen to unprecedented heights.

In sports, the main thing is not only victory, but also its development, and this is interesting for fans.

Athletes from other countries could not do what we are doing, and of course they did not like it, ”the State Duma deputy emphasized.

In turn, Evgeni Plushenko called the decision expected, but expressed the hope that soon the attitude towards Russia would change.

“I have been ready for this for a long time.

I think everyone else does too.

We should not have any illusions now that we will be given any international starts.

Our athletes must continue to train.

It is necessary to make high-level competitions within the country, ”Sport-Express quotes the words of the two-time Olympic champion.

The inevitability of such a development of events was also realized by Alexander Zhulin.

But, unlike his colleague, the dancer's coach found it difficult to answer the question of what path of development Russian figure skating should now take.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to do next and how to organize alternative tournaments.

I will go to work and train.

We will prepare somewhere, ”RIA Novosti quotes Zhulin.

World Championship medalist Alexander Enbert stressed that there is strong competition in Russia, but it still will not replace the experience of international competitions.

“It would be good if international tournaments in one format or another would still take place.

I hope that our federation and the Ministry of Sports will come up with new formats to keep our athletes in the mood and motivation,” Enbert concluded.