“It doesn’t mean they can really judge, but they have the right to qualify” – Lakernik on Russian judges on ISU list

International Skating Union (ISU) Honorary Vice President Alexander Lakernik told that the inclusion of Russian referees in the ISU roster for next season does not mean they will have the right to work in competitions.

The ISU previously included Russian representatives in the judges’ and starters’ lists for speed skating and short track competitions for the 2023/24 season.

– This is a list of people who have the formal right to judge competitions based on their qualifications. By their qualifications they can judge. It doesn’t mean they can really judge, but it does mean they have the right to qualify. They will judge or not based on the decisions of the ISU Board of Directors. For the time being, the council has decided that judges from Russia and Belarus do not have the right to judge international competitions. Until that’s changed, they won’t judge,” Lakernik told .

In early June, the ISU confirmed the suspension of Russian athletes from participating in competitions under the organization’s auspices. This decision was taken in 2022 in the context of the situation in Ukraine.

In March 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that sports federations allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutral athletes and subject to a number of additional conditions.