{"id":28654,"date":"2026-11-09T08:29:42","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=28654"},"modified":"2026-11-09T08:29:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:44:42","slug":"canada-to-deny-visas-to-russian-junior-hockey-team-zakharova-accuses-ottawa-of-politicising-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=28654","title":{"rendered":"Canada to Deny Visas to Russian Junior Hockey Team; Zakharova Accuses Ottawa of Politicising Sport<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/p>\n

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Russian junior ice hockey players will not be allowed into Canada despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the decision as political interference in international sport.<\/p>\n

On October 30, CAS ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) had not provided sufficient evidence to exclude Russian teams from the 2026\u201327 season\u2019s competitions and said they should be allowed to participate. The IIHF says it is discussing how to implement the ruling, including security, visas, travel arrangements and possible changes to tournament formats. <\/p>\n

However, on November 3, Carney said Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be permitted to compete in Canada under their national teams while the war in Ukraine continues. The World Junior Ice Hockey Championship is scheduled to run from December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada. <\/p>\n

Zakharova said the IIHF\u2019s rules require the host country to facilitate entry for all participating teams. She argued that Canada\u2019s decision would violate the competition rules and the Olympic Charter\u2019s principle of political neutrality in sport, harming both the tournament and international hockey. She also called Carney\u2019s position contradictory, noting that more than 50 Russian players compete in the National Hockey League. <\/p>\n

The Canadian government says it will use its immigration powers to prevent Russian athletes from competing under their national symbols. Ottawa argues that while CAS\u2019s ruling applies to the international federation, it does not require the Canadian government to issue visas. The dispute has raised questions about the relationship between decisions by sports bodies and the host country\u2019s authority over entry. <\/p>\n

Russia has described the CAS ruling as confirmation that the ban on Russian athletes\u2019 participation lacked sufficient evidence. How the IIHF implements the decision, and how Canada\u2019s visa policy affects Russia\u2019s participation, is likely to intensify debate over the future of international hockey and political involvement in sport.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t