Sports lawyer Mikhail Prokopets, in a conversation with , explained how the Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin challenged the EU sanctions.
The court on Thursday ruled that Mazepin had the right to enter the EU to negotiate and make deals with a racing team or with sponsors not associated with his father, Dmitry Mazepin, “as a main driver or reserve of Formula 1 or another organized series”. by under the aegis of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)”, to participate in races, sponsorships and promotions at the request of his racing team or his sponsors, and to participate in championships, Grand Prix, races, training, testing in EU member states.
– It is very important to understand that he appealed against the non-sporting sanctions. He appealed against being placed on the sanctions list as a Russian citizen for his ties to Uralkali. It was because of his inclusion on the sanctions list that he was deprived of the possibility of entering and working in the territory of the European Union. If I understood correctly, as a rider, he was not sanctioned. Therefore, now the sanction imposed on him as an individual for his family’s ties to Uralkali has been lifted and as a rider he can continue to compete.
As for our athletes, I just don’t remember who was sanctioned. But, for example, if you fantasize. A chess player is sanctioned to enter the European Union and he cannot come to the competition, but at the same time he has not been banned by FIDE, as an athlete, so he can probably follow the same path and appeal against the sanctions. It is important to understand that Mazepin did not appeal against the sanctions of the sports federation, but against the sanctions of the European Union, Prokopets told .
If Mazepin is hired as a Formula 1 driver or in other motorsport championships organized only in the EU or outside it, Mazepin must commit to driving under a neutral flag and sign the required document by the FIA.
Mazepin was subject to European sanctions a year ago. He was a driver for the Haas team in the 2021 season and finished 21st in the final standings. In March 2022, it was announced that the team would end their partnership with him.
This season, Mazepin is taking part in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Source : MatchTV
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
