New Delhi: The International Judo Federation (IJF) on Sunday announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Arkady Rotenberg have been removed from all positions held in the sports governing body amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“The International Judo Federation announces that Mr. Vladimir Putin and Mr. Arkady Rotenberg have been removed from all positions held in the International Judo Federation,” IJF in a statement said.
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69-year-old Putin, a blackbelt in judo, is the co-author of a book on Judo titled ‘Judo: History, Theory and Practice’. Seeing the Russian President’s fondness for the sport, International Judo Federation (IJF) had given him the title of Honorary President and ambassador.
Last month, Russian President Putin was stripped of the status of Honorary President and ambassador of the International Judo Federation (IJF). The Federation had made the big announcement of suspending Putin from the prestigious title in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation,” the International Judo Federation had said in a statement.
Russia has faced severe backlash from western countries and the world after President Putin ordered a ‘special military operation to protect people in the Donbas region’ after recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk – Ukraine’s breakaway regions – as independent entities.
Over Putin’s recent actions, US, UK, Germany and many other nations have applied fresh rounds of sanctions on Russia.